On Wednesday, January 28, 2026, KTSM reported that El Paso District Court Judge Marlene Gonzalez recused herself from cases involving migrant children following allegations of prejudiced behavior during hearings. The allegations suggest that Judge Gonzalez acted impartially and with prejudice toward the children.
Judge Gonzalez issued a statement noting that the Texas Code of Judicial Conduct restricts her from commenting on cases from which she has recused herself. She stated that her recusal from hearings regarding unaccompanied migrant children’s cases was voluntary.
Attorneys from Estrella del Paso, an immigrant advocacy organization, filed a motion on December 17, 2025, to recuse Gonzalez from hearings involving unaccompanied migrant children. These children are those who have entered the U.S. illegally and without a parent or guardian.
The court filing included written declarations from attorneys and social services workers associated with Estrella del Paso. These declarations detailed allegations that Judge Gonzalez demonstrated a “pattern and practice of cruelty” towards migrant children during court hearings.
The declarations allege that Gonzalez subjected children to humiliating interrogations regarding their reasons for leaving their home countries. She is also accused of shaming children on multiple occasions for abandoning their parents.
One account describes an instance where Gonzalez interrogated a 17-year-old Guatemalan boy who testified that he fled to Mexico from an abusive, alcoholic father, only to be kidnapped and beaten twice in Mexico. The attorney representing the boy alleged that Gonzalez responded by “haranguing” him, questioning why he didn’t stay in another part of Mexico, remarking on its beauty and size.
Another hearing involved a 16-year-old Venezuelan girl who was a victim of child prostitution. In this case, an attorney alleged that Gonzalez scolded the child for failing to avoid prostitution.
The filing also noted that despite these alleged practices, Gonzalez had “unexpectedly” granted children their petitions for Special Immigrant Juvenile Visas. However, in 2025, she reportedly began denying these petitions without providing any reasoning.
Estrella del Paso declined an interview request from KTSM but offered a statement. The organization stated that for nearly 40 years, it has provided legal representation and other legal services to immigrants in El Paso. They emphasized their status as a non-profit law firm and their commitment to legal and ethical duties to their clients.
The organization stated that every motion and document is filed with these duties in mind. Estrella del Paso added that the motion filed includes several detailed examples that their legal team took time and detailed care to compile. For accuracy and completeness, they encourage people to refer directly to that filing. They will not comment on the motions or their interactions with the court. They also stated that all their clients are owed a duty of confidentiality, and they will not violate this duty, especially in the case of vulnerable children.
Source: KTSM
