The Honorable Immigration Judge Jason Smith

Los Fresnos (PEP), TX Immigration Court
Appointed October 2025 · President Donald Trump Attorney General Pamela Bondi
Less than a year on the immigration bench
Appointed under a Republican administration
Caseload & process (since 2021)
82
Completions per year
163 total
96.3%
Detained at decision
share of cases
4.1 mo
Median time to decision
from case start
0%
Ordered removed in absentia
person absent
25.2%
Decisions appealed to BIA
appeal rate
Appeals remanded or reversed
only 1 appeals — too few

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
4 bond decisions Too few cases
Median bond when set
Released on own recognizance
This judge 0%
Court average 60% · median $5,000
National 41.9% · median $6,500

Grant rates by type of relief

Share granted among merits decisions for each application type, since 2021.
Asylum
11.4% 35 decisions Too few cases
Withholding / CAT
1.7% 58 decisions Moderate
Cancellation — 42B (non-LPR)
33.3% 6 decisions Too few cases
Cancellation — 42A (LPR)
0% 1 decision Too few cases
Adjustment of status (245)
100% 1 decision Too few cases
Voluntary departure
100% 90 decisions Moderate
11.4%
of asylum claims granted on the merits
Based on 35 asylum decisions (grants + denials) since 2021. Fewer than 50 — treat this figure with caution.
This judge
11.4%
This court
12.7%
National average
31.8%
0%100% granted

Does a lawyer matter here?

Asylum grant rate by whether the person had legal representation.
With a lawyerrepresented · 27 decisions since 2021
3.7%
Without a lawyerunrepresented · 8 decisions since 2021
37.5%

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.
0% 25% 50% 75% 100%2025: 7.7% of 13 decisions7.7%20252026 (partial year): 13.6% of 22 decisions13.6%2026*
* 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).
Los Fresnos, TX · home court
159 (98%)
4 (2.5%)