A few numbers worth knowing if you have a hearing in front of Judge Ling, Lisa W. (IJ code LLG, New York Varick 5th, NY):
Overall track record
8 years on the bench (since 2019), 5,667 cases total, lifetime grant rate 29.8%
Last 3 years (2023–2026): 3,930 cases, grant rate 28.0% — 6.5pp above the New York Varick 5th court average (21.5%)
Nationality breakdown (2023–2026 cumulative)
Nationality / Cases / Grant rate Ecuador 1277 18.3% Honduras 441 15.7% Guatemala 353 6.1% El Salvador 337 15.1% Colombia 306 29.2% Peru 304 26.3% India 112 71.3% Russia 111 97.3% Mexico 88 9.8% Uzbekistan 74 94.6% Venezuela 62 41.1%
Russia applicants see a 97.3% grant rate versus 6.1% for Guatemala applicants — a 15.9× gap on this judge's docket.
Year-by-year
2023: 972 cases, 30.3% grant rate 2024: 976 cases, 41.4% grant rate 2025: 1230 cases, 24.6% grant rate 2026: 752 cases, 4.0% grant rate
If you've appeared before Judge Ling, 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.