Judge Michelle Venci

A few numbers worth knowing if you have a hearing in front of Judge Venci, Michelle (IJ code MEV, Chicago, IL):

Overall track record

9 years on the bench (since 2018), 5,173 cases total, lifetime grant rate 5.5%

Last 3 years (2023–2026): 5,118 cases, grant rate 5.3% — 7.1pp below the Chicago court average (12.4%)

Nationality breakdown (2023–2026 cumulative)

Nationality / Cases / Grant rate
Venezuela              998    2.2%
Mexico                 919    4.1%
Nicaragua              685    4.1%
Guatemala              454    2.2%
Honduras               441    2.3%
Colombia               382    0.3%
Ecuador                297    0.0%
Cuba                   128   37.5%
El Salvador             94    8.3%
Haiti                   70    0.0%
China                   62   29.3%

Year-by-year

2023:  499 cases, 22.6% grant rate
2024:  946 cases, 7.7% grant rate
2025: 1996 cases, 3.0% grant rate
2026: 1677 cases, 2.1% grant rate

If you've appeared before Judge Venci, 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.