A few numbers worth knowing if you have a hearing in front of Judge Nelson, Barbara A. (IJ code BAN, New York City, NY):
Overall track record
34 years on the bench (since 1993), 18,753 cases total, lifetime grant rate 28.5%
Last 3 years (2023–2026): 3,196 cases, grant rate 15.5% — 6.2pp below the New York City court average (21.7%)
Nationality breakdown (2023–2026 cumulative)
Nationality / Cases / Grant rate Ecuador 670 2.4% China 306 47.3% Venezuela 277 3.7% Colombia 241 1.7% El Salvador 175 23.5% Guatemala 155 20.4% India 142 13.9% Honduras 115 13.6% Dominican Republic 101 11.5% Mexico 99 15.1% Peru 83 2.6%
China applicants see a 47.3% grant rate versus 1.7% for Colombia applicants — a 27.3× gap on this judge's docket.
Year-by-year
2023: 612 cases, 33.9% grant rate 2024: 800 cases, 17.5% grant rate 2025: 963 cases, 11.5% grant rate 2026: 821 cases, 3.5% grant rate
If you've appeared before Judge Nelson, 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.