A few numbers worth knowing if you have a hearing in front of Judge Cho, Yul-mi (IJ code YMC, Chelsea, MA):
Overall track record
4 years on the bench (since 2023), 2,134 cases total, lifetime grant rate 9.2%
Last 3 years (2023–2026): 2,129 cases, grant rate 9.2% — 11.3pp below the Chelsea court average (20.5%)
Nationality breakdown (2023–2026 cumulative)
Nationality / Cases / Grant rate Brazil 373 4.3% Guatemala 341 6.0% Dominican Republic 282 1.9% Ecuador 161 3.0% El Salvador 132 16.7% Mexico 123 7.6% Colombia 108 2.1% Honduras 81 4.2% Angola 51 31.7% Haiti 42 12.8% Jamaica 32 9.4%
Angola applicants see a 31.7% grant rate versus 1.9% for Dominican Republic applicants — a 16.8× gap on this judge's docket.
Year-by-year
2023: 200 cases, 7.9% grant rate 2024: 575 cases, 9.4% grant rate 2025: 784 cases, 7.6% grant rate 2026: 570 cases, 12.4% grant rate
If you've appeared before Judge Cho, 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.