A few numbers worth knowing if you have a hearing in front of Judge Simons, Anita L. (IJ code ALS, West Los Angeles, CA):
Overall track record
36 years on the bench (since 1991), 4,849 cases total, lifetime grant rate 23.1%
Last 3 years (2023–2026): 3,034 cases, grant rate 17.2% — 4.2pp above the West Los Angeles court average (13.1%)
Nationality breakdown (2023–2026 cumulative)
Nationality / Cases / Grant rate Mexico 554 21.8% Guatemala 479 3.2% Nicaragua 359 14.9% Colombia 316 3.2% El Salvador 290 12.6% Honduras 199 4.5% Peru 133 3.1% Venezuela 120 9.5% China 117 74.7% Russia 91 69.4% Ecuador 67 3.0%
China applicants see a 74.7% grant rate versus 3.0% for Ecuador applicants — a 24.7× gap on this judge's docket.
Year-by-year
2023: 480 cases, 44.0% grant rate 2024: 488 cases, 32.1% grant rate 2025: 1019 cases, 10.9% grant rate 2026: 1047 cases, 3.3% grant rate
If you've appeared before Judge Simons, 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, May 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.