A few numbers worth knowing if you have a hearing in front of Judge Akalski, Maria I. (IJ code MIA, Newark, NJ):
Overall track record
30 years on the bench (since 1997), 5,819 cases total, lifetime grant rate 3.4%
Last 3 years (2023–2026): 5,713 cases, grant rate 3.4% — 8.1pp below the Newark court average (11.6%)
Nationality breakdown (2023–2026 cumulative)
Nationality / Cases / Grant rate Ecuador 1217 2.2% Peru 854 1.3% Colombia 637 0.7% Brazil 631 1.8% Guatemala 481 2.4% Honduras 416 1.9% Mexico 302 13.9% El Salvador 176 2.3% Cuba 157 44.4% Dominican Republic 129 1.9% Venezuela 121 1.0%
Cuba applicants see a 44.4% grant rate versus 0.7% for Colombia applicants — a 65.6× gap on this judge's docket.
Year-by-year
2023: 673 cases, 8.2% grant rate 2024: 1720 cases, 2.3% grant rate 2025: 1645 cases, 5.7% grant rate 2026: 1675 cases, 0.2% grant rate
If you've appeared before Judge Akalski, 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.