Judge Nicholle M. Hempel

A few numbers worth knowing if you have a hearing in front of Judge Hempel, Nicholle M. (IJ code NMH, Houston Greenspoint, TX):

Overall track record

6 years on the bench (since 2021), 4,788 cases total, lifetime grant rate 2.5%

Last 3 years (2023–2026): 4,452 cases, grant rate 2.1% — roughly in line with the Houston Greenspoint court average (2.1%)

Nationality breakdown (2023–2026 cumulative)

Nationality / Cases / Grant rate
Honduras              1363    1.1%
Mexico                 767    2.3%
Cuba                   609    4.9%
Venezuela              448    5.2%
El Salvador            321    1.2%
Guatemala              299    0.9%
Nicaragua              292    3.5%
Colombia               163    0.0%
Ecuador                 36    0.0%
Peru                    27    0.0%
Turkiye                 16    0.0%

Year-by-year

2023:  740 cases, 2.6% grant rate
2024: 1001 cases, 1.7% grant rate
2025: 1591 cases, 2.1% grant rate
2026: 1120 cases, 2.1% grant rate

If you've appeared before Judge Hempel, 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.