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 Veronica S Villegas earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1996 from California State University, Fullerton, and a Juris Doctor in 1999 from Loyola Law School. She was in private practice at her own law office in West Covina, California (2012-2017 and 2004-2005) and was a partner at Hill, Piibe & Villegas (2005-2012). Earlier she served as an assistant chief counsel for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (2003-2004) and as an assistant district counsel for the former Immigration and Naturalization Service (1999-2003). She is a member of the State Bar of California.
Caseload & process (since 2021)
1,068
Completions per year
6,411 total
1.2%
Detained at decision
share of cases
22.5 mo
Median time to decision
from case start
26.6%
Ordered removed in absentia
person absent
2.3%
Decisions appealed to BIA
appeal rate
19%
Appeals remanded or reversed
21 appeals decided
Grant rates by type of relief
Share granted among merits decisions for each application type, since 2021.
Asylum
33.6%
265 decisions High confidence
Withholding / CAT
1.5%
326 decisions High confidence
Cancellation — 42B (non-LPR)
85.6%
153 decisions Moderate
Cancellation — 42A (LPR)
100%⚠
7 decisions Too few cases
Adjustment of status (245)
100%⚠
37 decisions Too few cases
Voluntary departure
92%⚠
25 decisions Too few cases
33.6%
of asylum claims granted on the merits High confidence
Based on 265 asylum decisions (grants + denials) since 2021.
This judge
33.6%
This court
32.6%
National average
31.8%
0%100% granted
In the top 39% 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 · 259 decisions since 2021
34.4%
Without a lawyer⚠unrepresented · 6 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).