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 Madeline Garcia earned a Bachelor of Arts in 1988 from the InterAmerican University of Puerto Rico and a Juris Doctor in 1992 from the Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico School of Law. Before her appointment, she was a sole practitioner in private immigration practice in Puerto Rico (1996-2011), served as an adjunct professor and director of the Legal Aid Clinic at the University of Puerto Rico School of Law (2000-2002), and worked as an associate at the federal civil litigation firm Indiano & Williams in Puerto Rico (1992-1996).
Caseload & process (since 2021)
1,614
Completions per year
9,686 total
4.4%
Detained at decision
share of cases
25.3 mo
Median time to decision
from case start
14.7%
Ordered removed in absentia
person absent
5.8%
Decisions appealed to BIA
appeal rate
4.3%
Appeals remanded or reversed
92 appeals decided
Grant rates by type of relief
Share granted among merits decisions for each application type, since 2021.
Asylum
13.2%
408 decisions High confidence
Withholding / CAT
1.4%
664 decisions High confidence
Cancellation — 42B (non-LPR)
70.6%
51 decisions Moderate
Cancellation — 42A (LPR)
75%⚠
4 decisions Too few cases
Adjustment of status (245)
90%
50 decisions Moderate
Voluntary departure
100%
168 decisions Moderate
13.2%
of asylum claims granted on the merits High confidence
Based on 408 asylum decisions (grants + denials) since 2021.
This judge
13.2%
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 · 374 decisions since 2021
13.4%
Without a lawyer⚠unrepresented · 34 decisions since 2021
11.8%
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).