A few numbers worth knowing if you have a hearing in front of Judge Snavely, Luther M. (IJ code LMS, Sterling, VA):
Overall track record
5 years on the bench (since 2022), 2,644 cases total, lifetime grant rate 4.5%
Last 3 years (2023–2026): 2,538 cases, grant rate 3.9% — 7.1pp below the Sterling court average (11.1%)
Nationality breakdown (2023–2026 cumulative)
Nationality / Cases / Grant rate Honduras 589 1.7% Guatemala 455 0.0% El Salvador 365 12.0% Mexico 237 0.9% Venezuela 175 4.5% Nicaragua 146 3.5% Peru 140 1.6% Colombia 110 2.9% Cuba 45 25.0% Afghanistan 26 4.2% Brazil 24 0.0%
Year-by-year
2023: 273 cases, 12.9% grant rate 2024: 766 cases, 5.2% grant rate 2025: 876 cases, 2.0% grant rate 2026: 623 cases, 0.7% grant rate
If you've appeared before Judge Snavely, 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.