Key takeaways
- All years on record: 16.6% of decided asylum cases were granted (1,086,307 of 6,538,746).
- FY2026 to date: 3.0%, across 672,504 decisions — down from 34.8% in FY2021.
- The median judge (100+ decided cases) has granted 10.4%; 671 of 1,364 judges granted fewer than 10%.
- A rate describes a judge's past docket. It is not a prediction for any one case.
The short answer
Across every year in AsylumTracker's EOIR dataset, immigration judges granted asylum in 16.6% of decided cases — 1,086,307 grants out of 6,538,746 grants and denials. The current picture is very different: in fiscal year 2026 to date, the rate is 3.0% across 672,504 decisions.
“Decided” means a judge granted or denied asylum. Cases that ended another way — withdrawn, terminated, administratively closed — are left out of the rate because they are not a ruling on the asylum claim. The grant-rate methodology explains the formula.
The national grant rate, year by year
* Fiscal years run October–September. FY2026 is partial: decisions recorded through the EOIR release processed on Sep 1, 2026.
Two things moved at once. The number of asylum decisions grew from 59,174 in FY2021 to 672,504 in FY2026 so far — about 11 times as many — while the share granted fell from 34.8% to 3.0%.
FY2021 was an unusual year: pandemic closures kept the docket small, so it overstates the long-run norm. But the decline since then has been steady — 26.3% in FY2022, 17.4% in FY2023, 13.5% in FY2024 and 8.0% in FY2025.
How much judges differ
Among the 1,364 judges with at least 100 decided asylum cases, the median judge has granted 10.4% of them. 671 judges granted fewer than 10%; 63 granted half or more.
These are career totals — every asylum grant and denial on each judge's record, listed under the court where the judge sits now. A judge who changed courts carries the whole record.
Judges differ for reasons beyond the judge. Detention courts hear mostly detained applicants, many without a lawyer; some courts see many applicants from countries with high historical grant rates; representation, filing timing and the facts of each claim all matter. Read a judge's rate as a description of the past docket — how to read judge statistics goes further.
How much courts differ
Over all years on record, court averages range from 1.6% at Stewart, GA to 45.1% at New York City, NY (courts with at least 10,000 decided cases). The recent drop is broad: 11 of the 12 largest courts are below their all-years rate in FY2026 to date.
To see every court on a map with its grant rate and judges, open the immigration court directory.
How to look up a specific judge
Search any judge by name in the judge directory or the web lookup. Each profile shows granted and denied counts, the rate by fiscal year and a breakdown by nationality. If you don't know who your judge is yet, start with how to find out who your immigration judge is.
AsylumTracker, TRAC and other sources
TRAC, a research center at Syracuse University, has long published judge-by-judge asylum reports built from EOIR records it obtains. AsylumTracker also works from EOIR case data and refreshes when EOIR publishes a new release. Figures can differ between sources because of the time window, which outcomes count as a decision and how judges are matched to courts — compare like with like.
What these numbers can't tell you
- Your odds. Outcomes turn on the facts, the evidence, credibility, the law in your circuit and whether you have a lawyer.
- Why a case was decided the way it was. The data records the outcome, not the reasoning.
- Anything certain about a single case. These are aggregates, and this is not legal advice.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average asylum grant rate for immigration judges?
Across all years in the dataset, 16.6% of decided asylum cases were granted. The median judge with at least 100 decided cases has granted 10.4%. In FY2026 to date the national rate is 3.0%.
Which immigration court has the highest asylum grant rate?
Among courts with at least 10,000 decided cases, New York City, NY has the highest all-years rate (45.1%) and Stewart, GA the lowest (1.6%). Current-year rates are lower at most large courts.
Where does this data come from?
From case data published by EOIR, the Executive Office for Immigration Review at the U.S. Department of Justice. This page uses the release AsylumTracker processed on Sep 1, 2026.
Can I choose or change my immigration judge?
No. The court assigns cases. Asking a judge to step aside requires a specific legal reason such as a conflict of interest — a low grant rate is not one.
Sources
- EOIR — FOIA library and case data
- EOIR — Workload and adjudication statistics
- TRAC — Immigration judge reports
- AsylumTracker — Data downloads and methodology
This guide is general information from public records, not legal advice. Rules and deadlines can change and every case is different — talk to an immigration attorney or DOJ-accredited representative about yours.