# Howard E. Achtsam

Howard E. Achtsam was appointed an immigration judge in July 1986 and is associated with the Harlingen immigration court system in South Texas. He earned a B.A. from Queens College, City University of New York, in 1973 and a J.D. from the State University of New York at Buffalo in 1976. Before his judicial appointment, Achtsam worked as an attorney for the National Labor Relations Board, including in its Division of Advice in Washington, D.C., and later practiced with the Law Offices of Jones and Crane in Weslaco, Texas. He is a member of the New York and Texas bars.

Former Immigration Judge · [Harlingen Immigration Court](/kyj/court/tx/harlingen-immigration-court)

## Howard E. Achtsam at a glance

Current role

Former Immigration Judge

Court

[Harlingen Immigration Court](/kyj/court/tx/harlingen-immigration-court)

Jurisdiction

Texas · Federal

Judicial service

Former

Historical EOIR data

## Outcomes at a glance

Total outcomes

37,459

Relief granted

732 2.0%

Denied / removal ordered

20,198 53.9%

Other / procedural

16,529 44.1%

National comparison for this selection: 9,249,024 outcomes; 10.0% relief granted; 52.0% denied / removal ordered; 38.0% other / procedural.

Methodology and sources

These are proceeding outcomes, not asylum application statistics. Completion years use EOIR COMP_DATE; 2026 contains partial-year data. Relief granted, denied / removal ordered and other / procedural exhaust the recorded outcomes. Groups of one are included. Historical outcomes do not establish a current assignment. Counts describe recorded cases and do not predict an individual's result.

[Official EOIR case data](https://fileshare.eoir.justice.gov/EOIR%20Case%20Data.zip) · Source date: Tue, 01 Sep 2026 14:14:27 GMT

## Biography

### Professional career

- Immigration Judge, Executive Office for Immigration Review 1986-07
- Attorney, Law Offices of Jones and Crane (Weslaco, Texas) 1984–1986

### Education

- J.D. — State University of New York at Buffalo — 1976
- Queens College, City University of New York — B.A. (1973)

### Additional information

- Attorney, National Labor Relations Board (Albany, New York) 1976–1981
- Attorney, Division of Advice Section, National Labor Relations Board (Washington, D.C.) 1976–1980

## Sources

Identity source checked September 20, 2026 .

### DOJ EOIR current immigration judge directory

Identity source · HTML · Source checked September 20, 2026

### EOIR Policy Manual, Part II, Chapter 2.1 - Delivery and Receipt

Courtwide source · HTML · Source checked July 30, 2026

### EOIR Policy Manual, Part II, Chapter 2.3 - Documents

### EOIR Policy Manual, Part II, Chapter 3.10 - Interpreters

### EOIR Policy Manual, Part II, Chapter 3.11 - Courtroom Decorum

### EOIR Policy Manual, Part II, Chapter 3.12 - Electronic Devices

### EOIR Policy Manual, Part II, Chapter 3.15 - Individual Calendar Hearing

### Find an Immigration Court and Access Internet-Based Hearings

[Public Records & Data Use](/public-records-data-use) · [Corrections policy](/corrections)