A few numbers worth knowing if you have a hearing in front of Judge Lee, Wilbur (IJ code WRL, Santa Ana, CA):
Overall track record
6 years on the bench (since 2021), 2,713 cases total, lifetime grant rate 8.0%
Last 3 years (2023–2026): 2,210 cases, grant rate 5.8% — 3.7pp below the Santa Ana court average (9.5%)
Nationality breakdown (2023–2026 cumulative)
Nationality / Cases / Grant rate Mexico 679 3.5% Guatemala 259 0.8% Colombia 247 0.9% Nicaragua 241 1.3% Venezuela 104 2.0% China 103 26.5% El Salvador 91 6.4% Honduras 86 2.4% India 71 4.2% Peru 68 0.0% Russia 40 2.5%
Year-by-year
2023: 313 cases, 15.5% grant rate 2024: 479 cases, 6.0% grant rate 2025: 692 cases, 3.7% grant rate 2026: 726 cases, 3.0% grant rate
If you've appeared before Judge Lee, 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.