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 Eric J Tijerina earned a Bachelor of Arts in 1991 from the University of Texas at Austin, a Master of Business Administration in 1996 from Texas Christian University, and a Juris Doctor in 2006 from St. Mary's University School of Law. From 2015 to 2018 he was a policy analyst with the Office of Policy and Strategy, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. He earlier served as director of legal programs at the Refugee and Immigrant Center for Education and Legal Services in San Antonio (2010-2014) and as a teaching clinical fellow and supervising attorney for the St. Mary's University School of Law Immigration Clinic (2008-2010).
Caseload & process (since 2021)
2,362
Completions per year
14,170 total
18.8%
Detained at decision
share of cases
12.2 mo
Median time to decision
from case start
23.4%
Ordered removed in absentia
person absent
2.2%
Decisions appealed to BIA
appeal rate
18.2%
Appeals remanded or reversed
77 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.
36.2%
Bond requests granted
401 bond decisions High confidence
$15,000
Median bond when set
144 bonds with amounts
0%
Released on own recognizance
This judge 36.2%
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
28.8%
612 decisions High confidence
Withholding / CAT
4.2%
923 decisions High confidence
Cancellation — 42B (non-LPR)
3.8%
53 decisions Moderate
Cancellation — 42A (LPR)
80%⚠
5 decisions Too few cases
Adjustment of status (245)
30.8%⚠
13 decisions Too few cases
Voluntary departure
89.7%
389 decisions High confidence
28.8%
of asylum claims granted on the merits High confidence
Based on 612 asylum decisions (grants + denials) since 2021.
This judge
28.8%
This court
30.7%
National average
31.8%
0%100% granted
In the top 47% 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 · 441 decisions since 2021
34.9%
Without a lawyerunrepresented · 171 decisions since 2021
12.9%
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).