A few numbers worth knowing if you have a hearing in front of Judge Joyce, Jacquelyn J. (IJ code JJC, Houston South, TX):
Overall track record
5 years on the bench (since 2022), 3,632 cases total, lifetime grant rate 1.0%
Last 3 years (2023–2026): 3,626 cases, grant rate 1.0% — roughly in line with the Houston South court average (1.6%)
Nationality breakdown (2023–2026 cumulative)
Nationality / Cases / Grant rate Cuba 920 6.1% Honduras 686 0.0% Venezuela 428 0.9% Mexico 345 1.0% Guatemala 315 0.0% El Salvador 270 0.4% Colombia 210 0.0% Nicaragua 167 0.7% Ecuador 40 0.0% India 27 0.0% Nigeria 24 0.0%
Year-by-year
2023: 105 cases, 2.4% grant rate 2024: 971 cases, 2.2% grant rate 2025: 1446 cases, 0.6% grant rate 2026: 1104 cases, 0.3% grant rate
If you've appeared before Judge Joyce, I'd love to hear:
1. What's your nationality, and when was your most recent hearing?
2. How did your attorney prepare for this judge specifically?
Source: EOIR (U.S. Executive Office for Immigration Review) public statistics, May 2026 release, compiled by AsylumTracker. A judge's historical pattern does not predict the outcome of any individual case; this is shared to help set realistic expectations. Real-experience accounts from the community are welcome.