A few numbers worth knowing if you have a hearing in front of Judge Lewis, Michael A. (IJ code MIL, Arlington, VA):
Overall track record
4 years on the bench (since 2023), 2,192 cases total, lifetime grant rate 10.9%
Last 3 years (2023–2026): 2,179 cases, grant rate 10.9% — roughly in line with the Arlington court average (10.4%)
Nationality breakdown (2023–2026 cumulative)
Nationality / Cases / Grant rate Honduras 432 7.6% Guatemala 343 3.9% El Salvador 318 9.2% Bolivia 220 6.2% Peru 139 3.2% Mexico 132 5.4% Nicaragua 96 4.5% Venezuela 91 9.6% Colombia 70 1.6% Mauritania 37 22.2% Afghanistan 26 61.5%
Afghanistan applicants see a 61.5% grant rate versus 1.6% for Colombia applicants — a 38.2× gap on this judge's docket.
Year-by-year
2023: 282 cases, 24.3% grant rate 2024: 496 cases, 12.4% grant rate 2025: 739 cases, 9.1% grant rate 2026: 662 cases, 5.0% grant rate
If you've appeared before Judge Lewis, 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.