Immigration judge · Otero Immigration Court (OTO)

Judge Benjamin Kuipers

Last 12 months: Sep 2025 – Aug 2026 EOIR data as of Sep 1, 2026 Last decision: Aug 2026 With decisions since 2026 in the public data
Relief similar to the other judges in this court
How is this compared?

This judge: 6 of 294 (2.0 %) got relief (includes their cases in other courts). The other judges in the court: 210 of 4,961 (4.2 %). We say "more" or "less" only when the difference is statistically clear (two-proportion test, 95%); otherwise "similar".

Decisions over 12 months

Decisions 294 Sep 2025 – Aug 2026
Grants relief 2.0 % Court 4.1 % · Nation 2.4 %
Removal order 56.5 % Court 60.3 % · Nation 75.6 %
Decided in absentia 0.0 % Court 0.0 % · Nation 45.3 %
Had an attorney 54.1 % Court 45.8 % · Nation 38.1 %
How long cases take 5 months 158 days (median) · Court 96 days · Nation 793 days

In plain words

Out of every 100 cases this judge decided, 2 got relief. The vast majority end without relief.

0 of every 100 cases were decided in absentia, that is, without the person at the hearing.

With and without an attorney, the share with relief was similar (3.8 % and 0.0 %).

Of their 294 decisions, 6 ended with relief, 1 with the case closed, 121 with voluntary departure and 166 with a removal order.

How the decisions ended
OutcomeDecisions%
Relief62.0 %
Case closed10.3 %
Voluntary departure12141.2 %
Removal order16656.5 %
Decided in absentia00.0 %

This judge, the court and the nation

Grants relief
Removal order
Decided in absentia

With Benjamin Kuipers, the share of cases with relief is 2.0 %: lower than at the Otero court (4.1 %) and similar than nationwide (2.4 %).

With Benjamin Kuipers, the share of removal orders is 56.5 %: lower than at the Otero court (60.3 %) and lower than nationwide (75.6 %).

With Benjamin Kuipers, the share of cases decided in absentia is 0.0 %: similar than at the Otero court (0.0 %) and lower than nationwide (45.3 %).

With Benjamin Kuipers, the share of people with an attorney is 54.1 %: higher than at the Otero court (45.8 %) and higher than nationwide (38.1 %).

Cases with Benjamin Kuipers take longer than at the Otero court: a median of 158 days versus 96.

Compared with other judges

  • Ranked 7 of 7 for relief among the judges of their court (1 = most relief).
  • Ranked 2 of 7 for cases decided in absentia (1 = most in absentia).
  • Ranked 5 of 7 for speed (1 = fastest).
  • Grants relief more often than 50 of every 100 judges nationwide (among 850 judges with 50 or more decisions).

Decisions per month (Sep 2025 – Aug 2026)

The busiest month was Jul 2026 (73 decisions) and the quietest Sep 2025 (0).

Decisions per month (Sep 2025 – Aug 2026)
MonthDecisionsReliefIn absentiaVs. prior month
Sep 2025000—
Oct 2025000same
Nov 2025000same
Dec 2025000same
Jan 2026000same
Feb 20261900up
Mar 20264320up
Apr 20263520down
May 20263210down
Jun 20263100down
Jul 20267300up
Aug 20266110down

Months with fewer than 5 decisions are dotted: with so few cases, that month's percentage says little.

By nationality

The nationality with the most decisions before Benjamin Kuipers is Mexico (109), followed by Guatemala. The highest share with relief was for people from Mexico (2.8 %).

Country of originDecisionsReliefIn absentia
Mexico1092.8 %0.0 %
Guatemala300.0 %0.0 %

Only countries with 25 or more decisions with this judge; cases without a recorded nationality are not included.

With and without an attorney

DecisionsRelief
With an attorney1593.8 %
Without an attorney1350.0 %

Where this judge decides

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Other judges at Otero Immigration Court

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Frequently asked questions

How many cases did Benjamin Kuipers decide in the last 12 months?

294 decisions between Sep 2025 and Aug 2026, per EOIR data as of Sep 1, 2026.

How often does Benjamin Kuipers grant relief?

In 6 of 294 decisions (2.0 %). In the court the share was 4.1 % and nationwide 2.4 %.

What does "in absentia" mean?

That the case was decided without the person at the hearing. With Benjamin Kuipers it happened in 0.0 % of decisions. Going to your hearing is the most important thing you can do.

Where does this data come from?

From official EOIR case data, published in its FOIA Library. We count the immigration judge's decisions over the last 12 full months.

Sources

Not legal advice. These figures describe past decisions and do not predict your case. Talk to an immigration attorney.

Inmigreat is not part of the government and is not endorsed by USCIS or EOIR.