Judge Eva S. Saltzman

A few numbers worth knowing if you have a hearing in front of Judge Saltzman, Eva S. (IJ code ESS, Chicago, IL):

Overall track record

27 years on the bench (since 2000), 4,762 cases total, lifetime grant rate 29.8%

Last 3 years (2023–2026): 2,099 cases, grant rate 28.3% — 17.7pp above the Chicago court average (10.6%)

Nationality breakdown (2023–2026 cumulative)

Nationality / Cases / Grant rate
Mexico                 509   29.9%
Nicaragua              311    7.3%
Honduras               239   11.7%
Guatemala              197    7.9%
Venezuela              144   30.5%
Nigeria                 99   80.3%
El Salvador             62   24.3%
Cuba                    60   22.2%
India                   46   57.1%
Ecuador                 38    3.6%
China                   36   51.7%

Nigeria applicants see a 80.3% grant rate versus 3.6% for Ecuador applicants — a 22.5× gap on this judge's docket.

Year-by-year

2023:  671 cases, 32.9% grant rate
2024:  430 cases, 35.4% grant rate
2025:  518 cases, 27.8% grant rate
2026:  480 cases, 10.8% grant rate

If you've appeared before Judge Saltzman, I'd love to hear:

1. What's your nationality, and when was your most recent hearing?

2. How did your attorney prepare for this judge specifically?

Source: EOIR (U.S. Executive Office for Immigration Review) public statistics, July 2026 release, compiled by AsylumTracker. A judge's historical pattern does not predict the outcome of any individual case; this is shared to help set realistic expectations. Real-experience accounts from the community are welcome.