Judge Karen Marquez-Casillas

A few numbers worth knowing if you have a hearing in front of Judge Marquez-Casillas, Karen (IJ code KMC, Sterling, VA):

Overall track record

40 years on the bench (since 1987), 1,688 cases total, lifetime grant rate 6.3%

Last 3 years (2023–2026): 1,678 cases, grant rate 6.3% — 4.4pp below the Sterling court average (10.8%)

Nationality breakdown (2023–2026 cumulative)

Nationality / Cases / Grant rate
Honduras               423    4.8%
El Salvador            260    1.4%
Guatemala              232    1.5%
Peru                   141    3.1%
Mexico                 133    0.8%
Venezuela              130    7.3%
Nicaragua               80    6.6%
Colombia                73    0.0%
Afghanistan             26   65.4%
Bolivia                 25    0.0%
Brazil                  23    0.0%

Year-by-year

2023:    5 cases, 0.0% grant rate
2024:  253 cases, 4.5% grant rate
2025:  670 cases, 7.8% grant rate
2026:  750 cases, 5.7% grant rate

If you've appeared before Judge Marquez-Casillas, 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, July 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.