A few numbers worth knowing if you have a hearing in front of Judge Leeds, Frederic G. (IJ code FGL, New York City, NY):
Overall track record
35 years on the bench (since 1992), 11,189 cases total, lifetime grant rate 38.3%
Last 3 years (2023–2026): 2,249 cases, grant rate 25.1% — 3.4pp above the New York City court average (21.7%)
Nationality breakdown (2023–2026 cumulative)
Nationality / Cases / Grant rate Ecuador 501 2.2% China 305 73.9% Colombia 156 2.0% Venezuela 151 0.7% India 114 62.4% Peru 90 2.4% Mexico 84 16.2% Guatemala 80 5.3% Dominican Republic 78 11.0% Honduras 68 11.9% Bangladesh 57 81.8%
Bangladesh applicants see a 81.8% grant rate versus 0.7% for Venezuela applicants — a 113.7× gap on this judge's docket.
Year-by-year
2023: 529 cases, 39.0% grant rate 2024: 556 cases, 28.4% grant rate 2025: 710 cases, 19.7% grant rate 2026: 454 cases, 11.7% grant rate
If you've appeared before Judge Leeds, 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.