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 Christopher Pineda earned a Bachelor of Arts in 2001 from the University of Texas at Austin, a Master in Public Policy in 2005 from Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government, and a Juris Doctor in 2009 from Boston University School of Law. From 2014 to 2024, he served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Texas, and from 2009 to 2014 he practiced at a civil litigation firm in Brownsville, Texas. He is a member of the State Bar of Texas.
Caseload & process (since 2021)
717
Completions per year
4,303 total
12.7%
Detained at decision
share of cases
23.3 mo
Median time to decision
from case start
49.3%
Ordered removed in absentia
person absent
1%
Decisions appealed to BIA
appeal rate
31.8%
Appeals remanded or reversed
22 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.
68.2%
Bond requests granted
296 bond decisions High confidence
$4,000
Median bond when set
203 bonds with amounts
0%
Released on own recognizance
This judge 68.2%
Court average 29.4% · median $8,250
National 41.9% · median $6,500
Grant rates by type of relief
Share granted among merits decisions for each application type, since 2021.
Asylum
14.1%
64 decisions Moderate
Withholding / CAT
9.3%
107 decisions Moderate
Cancellation — 42B (non-LPR)
8.1%⚠
37 decisions Too few cases
Cancellation — 42A (LPR)
0%⚠
2 decisions Too few cases
Adjustment of status (245)
0%⚠
1 decision Too few cases
Voluntary departure
81.5%
81 decisions Moderate
14.1%
of asylum claims granted on the merits Moderate
Based on 64 asylum decisions (grants + denials) since 2021.
This judge
14.1%
This court
18.7%
National average
31.8%
0%100% granted
In the bottom 29% 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 lawyer⚠represented · 48 decisions since 2021
16.7%
Without a lawyer⚠unrepresented · 16 decisions since 2021
6.2%
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).