A few numbers worth knowing if you have a hearing in front of Judge Brown, Sam, IV (IJ code SBN, Houston, TX):
Overall track record
36 years on the bench (since 1991), 5,952 cases total, lifetime grant rate 2.6%
Last 3 years (2023–2026): 3,406 cases, grant rate 2.2% — roughly in line with the Houston court average (3.8%)
Nationality breakdown (2023–2026 cumulative)
Nationality / Cases / Grant rate Honduras 1020 0.5% Mexico 585 4.7% Guatemala 443 0.0% El Salvador 319 2.5% Venezuela 264 3.5% Cuba 204 0.7% Nicaragua 171 0.6% Colombia 142 0.0% Nigeria 32 8.0% Peru 19 0.0% Ecuador 15 0.0%
Year-by-year
2023: 808 cases, 2.7% grant rate 2024: 946 cases, 1.2% grant rate 2025: 1042 cases, 2.8% grant rate 2026: 610 cases, 2.2% grant rate
If you've appeared before Judge Brown, 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.