# Nathan Herbert

Assistant Chief Immigration Judge · [Otero Immigration Court](/kyj/court/nm/otero-immigration-court)

Last updated October 7, 2026

## Nathan Herbert at a glance

Current role

Assistant Chief Immigration Judge

Court

[Otero Immigration Court](/kyj/court/nm/otero-immigration-court)

Jurisdiction

New Mexico · Federal

Judicial service

Active

## Immigration proceeding outcomes

No proceeding outcomes in this EOIR release are matched to this profile. Any separately published asylum statistics are available below.

Asylum decisions and other statistics

## Analytics

Published EOIR records include 395 asylum outcomes associated with this judge. Asylum was granted in 60 (15.2%) and denied in 314 (79.5%); 21 were other or procedural outcomes. [Explore analytics](#analytics)

## Biography

### Professional career

- Nathan L. Herbert is an immigration judge appointed in August 2018 by Attorney General Jeff Sessions to hear cases at the El Paso Immigration Court, with a record showing a 57.7% asylum denial rate from FY 2021–early 2026
- Deputy chief counsel, ICE Office of Chief Counsel, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, San Antonio, 2015-2018
- Assistant chief counsel, ICE Office of Chief Counsel, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Denver, 2009-2015
- Attorney advisor, Executive Office for Immigration Review, U.S. Department of Justice, Denver, 2008-2009

### Education

- Michigan State University College of Law — J.D. (2008)
- Western Michigan University — B.S. (2003)

### Additional information

- TRAC notes that denial rates vary by judge due to case composition, detention status, representation, and policy environment, not solely judicial philosophy.
- Member of the Colorado Bar.

## Sources

Identity source checked August 19, 2026 .

Biography sources checked August 19, 2026 .

### DOJ EOIR current immigration judge directory

Identity source · HTML · Source checked August 19, 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

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

Judge Specific source · HTML · Source checked September 15, 2026

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

### TRAC: Judge Nathan L. Herbert, El Paso Immigration Court

Biography source · HTML · Source checked October 4, 2026

### Current EOIR official staff directory

Current EOIR Official Staff Directory source · HTML · Source checked October 7, 2026

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

### 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)


## Published courtroom rules

### Shared court rules

- [EOIR Practice Manual 2.1 — Delivery and Receipt](https://knowjudges.com/courtroom-rules/national-shared-set-c9195b4f0bba01a19aa8df41) — Immigration Court proceedings only, not BIA or OCAHO. Preserve chapter-specific proceeding limits. Section-specific exceptions, waivers, later amendments and case orders remain applicable. This is a source excerpt, not an exhaustive statement of the rule. [Official source](https://www.justice.gov/eoir/policy-manual-eoir/part-II/icpm/chapter-2-1). Collected 2026-10-27.
- [EOIR Practice Manual 3.11 — Courtroom Decorum](https://knowjudges.com/courtroom-rules/national-shared-set-8d8e8e8bf80478864645291a) — Immigration Court proceedings only, not BIA or OCAHO. Preserve chapter-specific proceeding limits. Section-specific exceptions, waivers, later amendments and case orders remain applicable. This is a source excerpt, not an exhaustive statement of the rule. [Official source](https://www.justice.gov/eoir/policy-manual-eoir/part-II/icpm/chapter-3-11). Collected 2026-10-27.
- [EOIR Practice Manual 2.3 — Documents](https://knowjudges.com/courtroom-rules/national-shared-set-53ee093be24c18a5d1a93046) — Immigration Court proceedings only, not BIA or OCAHO. Preserve chapter-specific proceeding limits. Section-specific exceptions, waivers, later amendments and case orders remain applicable. This is a source excerpt, not an exhaustive statement of the rule. [Official source](https://www.justice.gov/eoir/policy-manual-eoir/part-II/icpm/chapter-2-3). Collected 2026-10-27.