A few numbers worth knowing if you have a hearing in front of Judge Kahan, Michelle (IJ code MEK, Boston, MA):
Overall track record
22 years on the bench (since 2005), 4,724 cases total, lifetime grant rate 11.7%
Last 3 years (2023–2026): 4,368 cases, grant rate 11.9% — 14.7pp below the Boston court average (26.6%)
Nationality breakdown (2023–2026 cumulative)
Nationality / Cases / Grant rate Brazil 2359 10.7% Guatemala 358 17.4% Colombia 273 7.2% Haiti 268 2.9% El Salvador 196 18.4% Ecuador 176 24.5% Dominican Republic 166 0.7% Honduras 146 16.5% Peru 35 7.4% Venezuela 35 7.4% Mexico 28 5.6%
Ecuador applicants see a 24.5% grant rate versus 0.7% for Dominican Republic applicants — a 34.0× gap on this judge's docket.
Year-by-year
2023: 1185 cases, 15.2% grant rate 2024: 955 cases, 20.3% grant rate 2025: 985 cases, 17.2% grant rate 2026: 1243 cases, 3.1% grant rate
If you've appeared before Judge Kahan, 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.