A few numbers worth knowing if you have a hearing in front of Judge Sagesse, Cathy (IJ code CSE, New York City, NY):
Overall track record
32 years on the bench (since 1995), 3,580 cases total, lifetime grant rate 28.7%
Last 3 years (2023–2026): 2,578 cases, grant rate 21.8% — roughly in line with the New York City court average (21.7%)
Nationality breakdown (2023–2026 cumulative)
Nationality / Cases / Grant rate Ecuador 488 4.9% China 335 56.1% Venezuela 196 3.3% Colombia 169 3.2% India 136 31.7% Guatemala 116 13.7% Bangladesh 112 55.0% Honduras 111 9.1% El Salvador 98 21.2% Mexico 75 29.9% Dominican Republic 67 7.4%
China applicants see a 56.1% grant rate versus 3.2% for Colombia applicants — a 17.6× gap on this judge's docket.
Year-by-year
2023: 352 cases, 61.8% grant rate 2024: 479 cases, 37.9% grant rate 2025: 838 cases, 13.9% grant rate 2026: 909 cases, 4.2% grant rate
If you've appeared before Judge Sagesse, 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.