A few numbers worth knowing if you have a hearing in front of Judge Canales, Roel (IJ code RLC, Laredo, TX):
Overall track record
9 years on the bench (since 2018), 2,502 cases total, lifetime grant rate 3.9%
Last 3 years (2023–2026): 2,220 cases, grant rate 3.5% — roughly in line with the Laredo court average (3.5%)
Nationality breakdown (2023–2026 cumulative)
Nationality / Cases / Grant rate Mexico 1068 2.5% Honduras 310 0.5% Venezuela 165 2.7% Guatemala 93 0.0% Cuba 89 27.9% Ecuador 86 1.4% Nicaragua 74 0.0% Colombia 53 0.0% El Salvador 53 2.6% China 35 16.7% Vietnam 23 33.3%
Year-by-year
2023: 458 cases, 7.6% grant rate 2024: 491 cases, 3.9% grant rate 2025: 419 cases, 5.6% grant rate 2026: 852 cases, 1.6% grant rate
If you've appeared before Judge Canales, 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.