A few numbers worth knowing if you have a hearing in front of Judge Burnham, Shayne R. (IJ code SEB, New York Varick 5th, NY):
Overall track record
28 years on the bench (since 1999), 4,602 cases total, lifetime grant rate 27.9%
Last 3 years (2023–2026): 3,094 cases, grant rate 20.4% — roughly in line with the New York Varick 5th court average (21.5%)
Nationality breakdown (2023–2026 cumulative)
Nationality / Cases / Grant rate Ecuador 524 14.6% Honduras 373 9.2% El Salvador 371 13.8% Colombia 262 9.1% Guatemala 243 13.7% Peru 216 7.1% Nicaragua 178 13.9% India 157 53.5% Venezuela 102 19.6% Turkey 94 15.4% China 91 73.8%
China applicants see a 73.8% grant rate versus 7.1% for Peru applicants — a 10.4× gap on this judge's docket.
Year-by-year
2023: 617 cases, 30.6% grant rate 2024: 659 cases, 29.1% grant rate 2025: 1031 cases, 20.4% grant rate 2026: 787 cases, 3.3% grant rate
If you've appeared before Judge Burnham, 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.