A few numbers worth knowing if you have a hearing in front of Judge Burch, Valerie A. (IJ code VAB, Indianapolis, IN):
Overall track record
10 years on the bench (since 2017), 3,180 cases total, lifetime grant rate 13.9%
Last 3 years (2023–2026): 1,956 cases, grant rate 9.8% — 3.5pp above the Indianapolis court average (6.2%)
Nationality breakdown (2023–2026 cumulative)
Nationality / Cases / Grant rate Mexico 488 2.7% Guatemala 174 3.1% Honduras 172 8.4% Venezuela 159 20.1% Nicaragua 156 9.2% Colombia 103 7.9% India 87 7.6% Nigeria 79 14.7% El Salvador 74 10.6% Haiti 45 4.7% Cuba 43 25.0%
Cuba applicants see a 25.0% grant rate versus 2.7% for Mexico applicants — a 9.2× gap on this judge's docket.
Year-by-year
2023: 188 cases, 32.0% grant rate 2024: 165 cases, 17.4% grant rate 2025: 440 cases, 23.4% grant rate 2026: 1163 cases, 1.5% grant rate
If you've appeared before Judge Burch, 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.