A few numbers worth knowing if you have a hearing in front of Judge de Cardona, Lisa A. (IJ code LDC, Falls Church, VA):
Overall track record
36 years on the bench (since 1991), 4,004 cases total, lifetime grant rate 13.8%
Last 3 years (2023–2026): 1,792 cases, grant rate 12.4%
Nationality breakdown (2023–2026 cumulative)
Nationality / Cases / Grant rate Honduras 399 9.2% Guatemala 253 4.6% El Salvador 210 19.2% Mexico 198 0.0% Colombia 120 5.8% Venezuela 109 27.7% Nicaragua 103 10.2% Brazil 97 1.2% Peru 55 25.6% Ecuador 27 0.0% Cuba 25 6.2%
Year-by-year
2023: 180 cases, 46.9% grant rate 2024: 649 cases, 10.9% grant rate 2025: 529 cases, 13.6% grant rate 2026: 434 cases, 4.7% grant rate
If you've appeared before Judge de Cardona, 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, July 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.