Judge Arkesia Jenkins

A few numbers worth knowing if you have a hearing in front of Judge Jenkins, Arkesia (IJ code AAJ, Houston South, TX):

Overall track record

7 years on the bench (since 2020), 4,740 cases total, lifetime grant rate 1.5%

Last 3 years (2023–2026): 4,234 cases, grant rate 1.1% — roughly in line with the Houston South court average (1.5%)

Nationality breakdown (2023–2026 cumulative)

Nationality / Cases / Grant rate
Mexico                1241    0.9%
Honduras               792    0.8%
El Salvador            456    0.4%
Venezuela              451    0.0%
Guatemala              439    0.0%
Cuba                   284    0.0%
Nicaragua              198    0.0%
Colombia               106    0.0%
Nigeria                 37   29.2%
Romania                 22    0.0%
Turkiye                 21    6.2%

Year-by-year

2023: 1354 cases, 2.3% grant rate
2024:  820 cases, 2.1% grant rate
2025: 1199 cases, 0.3% grant rate
2026:  861 cases, 0.4% grant rate

If you've appeared before Judge Jenkins, I'd love to hear:

1. What's your nationality, and when was your most recent hearing?

2. How did your attorney prepare for this judge specifically?

Source: EOIR (U.S. Executive Office for Immigration Review) public statistics, July 2026 release, compiled by AsylumTracker. A judge's historical pattern does not predict the outcome of any individual case; this is shared to help set realistic expectations. Real-experience accounts from the community are welcome.