A few numbers worth knowing if you have a hearing in front of Judge Araneta, Michelle (IJ code MCA, Miami, FL):
Overall track record
31 years on the bench (since 1996), 5,088 cases total, lifetime grant rate 6.9%
Last 3 years (2023–2026): 3,517 cases, grant rate 4.9% — roughly in line with the Miami court average (5.9%)
Nationality breakdown (2023–2026 cumulative)
Nationality / Cases / Grant rate Cuba 1428 10.3% Nicaragua 407 1.3% Guatemala 399 3.3% Honduras 295 5.1% Haiti 241 1.2% Venezuela 212 1.3% Colombia 120 3.1% Mexico 97 9.6% Brazil 72 1.9% El Salvador 46 5.3% Peru 29 5.0%
Cuba applicants see a 10.3% grant rate versus 1.2% for Haiti applicants — a 8.4× gap on this judge's docket.
Year-by-year
2023: 733 cases, 8.9% grant rate 2024: 866 cases, 6.8% grant rate 2025: 1195 cases, 3.6% grant rate 2026: 723 cases, 1.8% grant rate
If you've appeared before Judge Araneta, 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.