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 Laura C Figueroa earned a Bachelor of Arts in 2003 from the University of Texas at San Antonio and a Juris Doctor in 2007 from the Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law. From 2017 to 2018 she was an immigration attorney in private practice, from 2013 to 2016 she was an attorney and partner with Figueroa & Jimenez, PLLC, from 2010 to 2013 she was an immigration attorney in private practice, and from 2008 to 2010 she was an associate attorney with the Law Offices of Gerald M. Gonzales, P.C., all in San Antonio, Texas. She is a member of the Texas State Bar.
Caseload & process (since 2021)
722
Completions per year
4,329 total
52.2%
Detained at decision
share of cases
4.4 mo
Median time to decision
from case start
7.9%
Ordered removed in absentia
person absent
7.3%
Decisions appealed to BIA
appeal rate
23.3%
Appeals remanded or reversed
150 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.
52.6%
Bond requests granted
211 bond decisions High confidence
$6,500
Median bond when set
102 bonds with amounts
0%
Released on own recognizance
This judge 52.6%
Court average 43% · 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
43.1%
754 decisions High confidence
Withholding / CAT
8.7%
1,017 decisions High confidence
Cancellation — 42B (non-LPR)
73.8%
263 decisions High confidence
Cancellation — 42A (LPR)
42.9%⚠
14 decisions Too few cases
Adjustment of status (245)
89.2%⚠
37 decisions Too few cases
Voluntary departure
65.9%
387 decisions High confidence
43.1%
of asylum claims granted on the merits High confidence
Based on 754 asylum decisions (grants + denials) since 2021.
This judge
43.1%
This court
22.2%
National average
31.8%
0%100% granted
In the top 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 · 585 decisions since 2021
54.4%
Without a lawyerunrepresented · 169 decisions since 2021
4.1%
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).