Judge Shayne R. Burnham

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.