A few numbers worth knowing if you have a hearing in front of Judge Neal, Michael M. (IJ code MMN, Newark, NJ):
Overall track record
30 years on the bench (since 1997), 2,889 cases total, lifetime grant rate 5.8%
Last 3 years (2023–2026): 2,832 cases, grant rate 5.8% — 4.8pp below the Newark court average (10.6%)
Nationality breakdown (2023–2026 cumulative)
Nationality / Cases / Grant rate Ecuador 487 4.0% Guatemala 367 3.4% Honduras 260 3.5% Colombia 234 1.6% Peru 227 3.5% Mexico 193 18.2% Brazil 173 0.9% El Salvador 145 4.1% Venezuela 117 3.6% Dominican Republic 87 4.8% Cuba 82 28.6%
Cuba applicants see a 28.6% grant rate versus 0.9% for Brazil applicants — a 32.9× gap on this judge's docket.
Year-by-year
2023: 7 cases, 0.0% grant rate 2024: 2 cases, 0.0% grant rate 2025: 1010 cases, 11.2% grant rate 2026: 1813 cases, 3.2% grant rate
If you've appeared before Judge Neal, 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.