Immigration judge
Judge Natalie Smith
Immigration Judge at Chelmsford, MA
EOIR data through Oct 1, 2026 · updated monthly
- 220
- Granted
- 1,409
- Denied
- 1,629
- Total Decided
Recent decisions (Oct 2024 – Sep 2026): Judge Natalie Smith granted asylum in 10.3% of 1,421 decided cases. That is lower than the judge's all-time rate of 13.5% (1,629 decided cases). Over the same months, Chelmsford, MA Immigration Court granted 14.3% and the national rate was 5.0%.
Historical listings do not by themselves establish a current assignment.
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How to Interpret These Judge Statistics
Among the largest nationality groups shown for this judge (fiscal years 2020–2026), the table highlights Brazil (368 decided, 10.9% grant rate), Guatemala (276 decided, 21.7% grant rate), and Dominican Republic (172 decided, 2.3% grant rate). Compare these rows with the judge's overall rate because nationality mix can materially change how the headline number should be read.
Grant rate is calculated as granted / (granted + denied). Other procedural outcomes, including terminated, withdrawn, administratively closed, or removed cases, are tracked separately where available and are not treated as asylum grants.
This page is based on public EOIR data last updated 2026-10-01. It is for research and information only, not legal advice.
Read the grant-rate methodology or learn how to read immigration judge statistics.
Nationality Breakdown
Fiscal years 2020–2026 (Oct 2019 – Sep 2026).
| Nationality | Cases | Grant rate |
|---|---|---|
| Brazil | 368 | 10.9% |
| Guatemala | 276 | 21.7% |
| Dominican Republic | 172 | 2.3% |
| Ecuador | 152 | 5.9% |
| El Salvador | 73 | 23.3% |
| Mexico | 59 | 8.5% |
| Haiti | 57 | 7.0% |
| Angola | 49 | 22.4% |
Yearly Trends
Federal fiscal years (October to September).
| Fiscal year | Cases | Grant rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 735 | 7.8% |
| 2025 | 686 | 13.0% |
| 2024 | 199 | 36.7% |
| 2022 | 4 | 25.0% |
| 2021 | 1 | 0.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Judge Natalie Smith's asylum grant rate?
Across all years in EOIR data, Judge Natalie Smith granted asylum in 13.5% of 1,629 decided cases (grants plus denials). For Oct 2024 – Sep 2026, the rate was 10.3% of 1,421 decided cases.
Does Judge Natalie Smith grant asylum more or less often than other judges?
The all-time rate (13.5%) is below the 16.4% national rate; the median judge at Chelmsford, MA grants 20.6%. It is a historical average, not a prediction for any one case.
How is this grant rate calculated?
Grants divided by grants plus denials. Terminations, withdrawals and administrative closures are not counted.