Source: EOIR — Find an Immigration Court.
Recording an internet-based hearing is prohibited (8 C.F.R. § 1003.28). Respondents without a representative default to in-person hearings.
Background
The Honorable Immigration Judge Abby Anna Batko-Taylor earned a Bachelor of Science in 2002 from Columbia University, Barnard College, a Juris Doctor in 2013 from the University of Texas School of Law, and a Master of Science in Social Work in 2013 from the University of Texas School of Social Work. Before her appointment, she was a staff attorney on the immigration team at Texas RioGrande Legal Aid (TRLA) in Austin (2017-2022), managed a Medical-Legal Partnership at TRLA (2016-2017), and held a Julius Glickman Fellowship in Public Interest Law managing a legal project at Volunteer Legal Services of Central Texas (2013-2015).
Caseload & process (since 2021)
604
Completions per year
3,624 total
7.5%
Detained at decision
share of cases
22.4 mo
Median time to decision
from case start
51.2%
Ordered removed in absentia
person absent
3.2%
Decisions appealed to BIA
appeal rate
14.3%
Appeals remanded or reversed
21 appeals decided
Bond decisions
Custody redetermination (bond) rulings since 2021.
"Granted" means the judge lowered the bond, ordered release on recognizance, or otherwise granted the request.
0%⚠
Bond requests granted
2 bond decisions Too few cases
—
Median bond when set
—
Released on own recognizance
This judge 0%
Court average 100% · median $10,000
National 41.9% · median $6,500
Grant rates by type of relief
Share granted among merits decisions for each application type, since 2021.
Asylum
51.9%
206 decisions High confidence
Withholding / CAT
11.1%
208 decisions High confidence
Cancellation — 42B (non-LPR)
44.4%⚠
9 decisions Too few cases
Cancellation — 42A (LPR)
100%⚠
3 decisions Too few cases
Adjustment of status (245)
100%⚠
4 decisions Too few cases
Voluntary departure
88.9%
72 decisions Moderate
51.9%
of asylum claims granted on the merits High confidence
Based on 206 asylum decisions (grants + denials) since 2021.
This judge
51.9%
This court
12.6%
National average
31.8%
0%100% granted
In the top 18% of the 825 judges nationally with enough cases to compare.
Does a lawyer matter here?
Asylum grant rate by whether the person had legal representation.
With a lawyerrepresented · 187 decisions since 2021
56.1%
Without a lawyer⚠unrepresented · 19 decisions since 2021
10.5%
Asylum grant rate over time
Each point is that calendar year's grant rate, back to 2015 where the judge was deciding cases — the longer career view. Dashed grey line = current national average (31.8%). Headline rates above use 2021 – today.
* 2026 is a partial year (data through 06/01/2026) and is incomplete.
Courts where this judge has decided cases
Hearing locations for cases this judge completed since 2021, by number of decisions.
Many judges hear cases from more than one court (detained facilities, video dockets, or reassignments).