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 Jose Rivera earned a Bachelor of Science in 1995 from Purdue University Fort Wayne and a Juris Doctor in 1999 from the Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico School of Law. Before his appointment, he served as an assistant chief counsel with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Miami (2017-2020), held a similar position with ICE in San Juan, Puerto Rico (2007-2017), worked as an attorney-advisor with the Federal Bureau of Prisons in Guaynabo, Puerto Rico (2001-2007), and served as an assistant to the deputy secretary of the Puerto Rico Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (2000-2001).
Caseload & process (since 2021)
1,904
Completions per year
11,427 total
1.5%
Detained at decision
share of cases
18 mo
Median time to decision
from case start
16.7%
Ordered removed in absentia
person absent
7.3%
Decisions appealed to BIA
appeal rate
4.7%
Appeals remanded or reversed
489 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.
30.4%⚠
Bond requests granted
23 bond decisions Too few cases
$5,000
Median bond when set
11 bonds with amounts
0%
Released on own recognizance
This judge 30.4%
National 41.9% · median $6,500
Grant rates by type of relief
Share granted among merits decisions for each application type, since 2021.
Asylum
13.3%
934 decisions High confidence
Withholding / CAT
2.7%
1,646 decisions High confidence
Cancellation — 42B (non-LPR)
35%⚠
20 decisions Too few cases
Cancellation — 42A (LPR)
75%⚠
4 decisions Too few cases
Adjustment of status (245)
71.8%
71 decisions Moderate
Voluntary departure
92.6%
188 decisions Moderate
13.3%
of asylum claims granted on the merits High confidence
Based on 934 asylum decisions (grants + denials) since 2021.
This judge
13.3%
This court
20.2%
National average
31.8%
0%100% granted
In the bottom 27% 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 · 756 decisions since 2021
14.7%
Without a lawyerunrepresented · 178 decisions since 2021
7.3%
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).