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 Ralph E. Girvin earned a Bachelor of Arts in 1993 from the University of Texas at El Paso and a Juris Doctor in 1995 from St. Mary's University School of Law. Before his appointment, he served as an assistant chief counsel with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in El Paso (2018-2020), as an assistant U.S. attorney for the Western District of Texas (2016-2018), as an assistant county attorney and chief of divisions for El Paso County (2000-2016), and as an assistant district attorney in the 34th Judicial District of Texas (1996-1999). He also served in the U.S. Army Reserve and Texas Army National Guard (1986-1992).
Caseload & process (since 2021)
937
Completions per year
5,621 total
52.4%
Detained at decision
share of cases
1 mo
Median time to decision
from case start
0%
Ordered removed in absentia
person absent
3.1%
Decisions appealed to BIA
appeal rate
12.2%
Appeals remanded or reversed
98 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.
9.1%
Bond requests granted
1,109 bond decisions High confidence
$10,000
Median bond when set
313 bonds with amounts
0%
Released on own recognizance
This judge 9.1%
Court average 16.2% · 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
7.1%
366 decisions High confidence
Withholding / CAT
3.7%
793 decisions High confidence
Cancellation — 42B (non-LPR)
15.8%⚠
19 decisions Too few cases
Cancellation — 42A (LPR)
40%⚠
5 decisions Too few cases
Adjustment of status (245)
0%⚠
2 decisions Too few cases
Voluntary departure
17.3%
341 decisions High confidence
7.1%
of asylum claims granted on the merits High confidence
Based on 366 asylum decisions (grants + denials) since 2021.
This judge
7.1%
This court
24.9%
National average
31.8%
0%100% granted
In the bottom 11% 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 · 146 decisions since 2021
14.4%
Without a lawyerunrepresented · 220 decisions since 2021
2.3%
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).