A few numbers worth knowing if you have a hearing in front of Judge Smith, Natalie (IJ code NSM, Chelsea, MA):
Overall track record
3 years on the bench (since 2024), 1,916 cases total, lifetime grant rate 15.6%
Last 3 years (2023–2026): 1,908 cases, grant rate 15.7% — 4.8pp below the Chelsea court average (20.5%)
Nationality breakdown (2023–2026 cumulative)
Nationality / Cases / Grant rate Brazil 478 12.9% Guatemala 332 23.9% Ecuador 169 6.8% Dominican Republic 153 1.7% El Salvador 107 26.2% Honduras 72 17.6% Haiti 70 10.3% Mexico 64 12.2% Colombia 51 3.1% Venezuela 44 8.7% Angola 42 26.5%
Angola applicants see a 26.5% grant rate versus 1.7% for Dominican Republic applicants — a 15.6× gap on this judge's docket.
Year-by-year
2024: 448 cases, 37.1% grant rate 2025: 976 cases, 13.0% grant rate 2026: 484 cases, 9.1% grant rate
If you've appeared before Judge Smith, 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.