A few numbers worth knowing if you have a hearing in front of Judge Sardelli, Brian (IJ code BSI, Bloomington, MN):
Overall track record
7 years on the bench (since 2020), 7,304 cases total, lifetime grant rate 3.2%
Last 3 years (2023–2026): 6,229 cases, grant rate 2.1% — roughly in line with the Bloomington court average (4.4%)
Nationality breakdown (2023–2026 cumulative)
Nationality / Cases / Grant rate Ecuador 1604 0.1% Nicaragua 1026 0.4% Guatemala 1025 0.2% Honduras 747 0.4% Mexico 744 2.3% El Salvador 261 3.6% Venezuela 227 0.9% Colombia 147 0.0% Somalia 37 30.6% Peru 34 0.0% Brazil 33 0.0%
Year-by-year
2023: 1322 cases, 4.7% grant rate 2024: 1143 cases, 2.8% grant rate 2025: 2084 cases, 1.3% grant rate 2026: 1680 cases, 0.4% grant rate
If you've appeared before Judge Sardelli, 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.