Judge Kristin Piepmeier

A few numbers worth knowing if you have a hearing in front of Judge Piepmeier, Kristin (IJ code PIE, Santa Ana, CA):

Overall track record

8 years on the bench (since 2019), 3,719 cases total, lifetime grant rate 3.1%

Last 3 years (2023–2026): 2,857 cases, grant rate 3.1% — 6.0pp below the Santa Ana court average (9.1%)

Nationality breakdown (2023–2026 cumulative)

Nationality / Cases / Grant rate
Mexico                 917    0.6%
Colombia               409    0.0%
Nicaragua              340    4.0%
Guatemala              326    2.3%
China                  123   10.9%
Venezuela              114    0.0%
Peru                   105    0.0%
El Salvador             95    1.1%
Honduras                91    1.2%
Russia                  67   17.5%
India                   57   20.4%

Year-by-year

2023:  443 cases, 5.2% grant rate
2024:  558 cases, 5.8% grant rate
2025:  861 cases, 2.9% grant rate
2026:  995 cases, 0.7% grant rate

If you've appeared before Judge Piepmeier, 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.