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 Elizabeth Martinez earned a Bachelor of Arts in 1997 from Texas A&M International University and a Juris Doctor in 2000 from Texas Tech University School of Law. Before her appointment she maintained a private law practice in Laredo, Texas (2007-2018). Earlier she served as a juvenile prosecutor (2001-2003) and an assistant public defender (2003-2007) in Webb County, Texas.
Caseload & process (since 2021)
2,410
Completions per year
14,457 total
22.5%
Detained at decision
share of cases
4.4 mo
Median time to decision
from case start
18.3%
Ordered removed in absentia
person absent
0.7%
Decisions appealed to BIA
appeal rate
20.6%
Appeals remanded or reversed
34 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.
62.1%
Bond requests granted
272 bond decisions High confidence
$7,500
Median bond when set
165 bonds with amounts
0%
Released on own recognizance
This judge 62.1%
Court average 64.8% · 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
9.4%
213 decisions High confidence
Withholding / CAT
4.8%
421 decisions High confidence
Cancellation — 42B (non-LPR)
0%⚠
11 decisions Too few cases
Cancellation — 42A (LPR)
60%⚠
5 decisions Too few cases
Adjustment of status (245)
33.3%⚠
3 decisions Too few cases
Voluntary departure
68.9%
225 decisions High confidence
9.4%
of asylum claims granted on the merits High confidence
Based on 213 asylum decisions (grants + denials) since 2021.
This judge
9.4%
This court
30.7%
National average
31.8%
0%100% granted
In the bottom 17% 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 · 145 decisions since 2021
12.4%
Without a lawyerunrepresented · 68 decisions since 2021
2.9%
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).