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 Kenya Wells earned a Bachelor of Science in 2007 from Texas A&M University and a Juris Doctor in 2010 from the University of Texas School of Law. From 2017 to 2021, Wells served as an assistant U.S. attorney with the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia. From 2010 to 2016, Wells served as an assistant district attorney with the New York County District Attorney's Office. Wells is a member of the New York State Bar.
Caseload & process (since 2021)
1,336
Completions per year
8,018 total
11.8%
Detained at decision
share of cases
17.8 mo
Median time to decision
from case start
30.4%
Ordered removed in absentia
person absent
13.3%
Decisions appealed to BIA
appeal rate
7.1%
Appeals remanded or reversed
170 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.
4.5%⚠
Bond requests granted
44 bond decisions Too few cases
$7,750
Median bond when set
4 bonds with amounts
0%
Released on own recognizance
This judge 4.5%
Court average 48.8% · median $7,500
National 41.9% · median $6,500
Grant rates by type of relief
Share granted among merits decisions for each application type, since 2021.
Asylum
2.6%
877 decisions High confidence
Withholding / CAT
1.3%
1,557 decisions High confidence
Cancellation — 42B (non-LPR)
1.4%
72 decisions Moderate
Cancellation — 42A (LPR)
0%⚠
5 decisions Too few cases
Adjustment of status (245)
85%⚠
20 decisions Too few cases
Voluntary departure
87%
192 decisions Moderate
2.6%
of asylum claims granted on the merits High confidence
Based on 877 asylum decisions (grants + denials) since 2021.
This judge
2.6%
This court
6.8%
National average
31.8%
0%100% granted
In the bottom 4% 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 · 701 decisions since 2021
3.3%
Without a lawyerunrepresented · 176 decisions since 2021
0%
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).