A few numbers worth knowing if you have a hearing in front of Judge Sameit, Mark (IJ code MST, Otay Mesa, CA):
Overall track record
9 years on the bench (since 2018), 1,463 cases total, lifetime grant rate 19.2%
Last 3 years (2023–2026): 1,361 cases, grant rate 20.1% — 3.6pp below the Otay Mesa court average (23.7%)
Nationality breakdown (2023–2026 cumulative)
Nationality / Cases / Grant rate Mexico 367 4.0% Guatemala 120 1.5% Russia 104 69.8% Venezuela 70 7.1% Colombia 65 6.2% El Salvador 48 13.8% China 37 17.6% India 37 0.0% Turkiye 36 38.5% Ecuador 34 0.0% Honduras 33 0.0%
Year-by-year
2023: 157 cases, 24.4% grant rate 2024: 178 cases, 16.7% grant rate 2025: 536 cases, 24.9% grant rate 2026: 490 cases, 13.9% grant rate
If you've appeared before Judge Sameit, 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.