A few numbers worth knowing if you have a hearing in front of Judge Thompson, Donald W., JR. (IJ code DWT, New York City, NY):
Overall track record
31 years on the bench (since 1996), 5,694 cases total, lifetime grant rate 41.0%
Last 3 years (2023–2026): 2,673 cases, grant rate 26.9% — 5.2pp above the New York City court average (21.7%)
Nationality breakdown (2023–2026 cumulative)
Nationality / Cases / Grant rate Ecuador 448 5.2% China 411 62.1% India 235 52.8% Colombia 189 2.3% Venezuela 140 0.8% Guatemala 101 20.2% Bangladesh 93 45.2% Honduras 81 24.6% Dominican Republic 80 8.2% Peru 80 9.3% El Salvador 79 35.8%
China applicants see a 62.1% grant rate versus 0.8% for Venezuela applicants — a 80.1× gap on this judge's docket.
Year-by-year
2023: 517 cases, 63.6% grant rate 2024: 535 cases, 44.1% grant rate 2025: 814 cases, 15.5% grant rate 2026: 807 cases, 3.9% grant rate
If you've appeared before Judge Thompson, 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.