A few numbers worth knowing if you have a hearing in front of Judge Karlen, Melissa Beth (IJ code MBK, Phoenix, AZ):
Overall track record
9 years on the bench (since 2018), 3,763 cases total, lifetime grant rate 10.7%
Last 3 years (2023–2026): 3,100 cases, grant rate 9.0% — roughly in line with the Phoenix court average (7.2%)
Nationality breakdown (2023–2026 cumulative)
Nationality / Cases / Grant rate Mexico 1359 10.0% Cuba 445 7.5% Guatemala 348 0.9% Venezuela 270 8.2% Honduras 165 2.6% Nicaragua 109 11.1% Colombia 99 7.5% Romania 42 20.0% El Salvador 36 6.2% Peru 31 6.7% Ecuador 28 4.5%
Romania applicants see a 20.0% grant rate versus 0.9% for Guatemala applicants — a 21.1× gap on this judge's docket.
Year-by-year
2023: 504 cases, 14.6% grant rate 2024: 789 cases, 12.0% grant rate 2025: 863 cases, 9.6% grant rate 2026: 944 cases, 3.7% grant rate
If you've appeared before Judge Karlen, 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.