New York · est. 2013Friday, September 4, 2026
Inside Immigration

Plain-language guides to US immigration, asylum and USCIS procedure.

Immigration judges

Donald Ostrom

Immigration Judge, Chelmsford Immigration Court. Appointed November 2023.

Asylum record, FY 2021-2026

TRAC source →
Judge Ostrom70.6%
Chelmsford court62.3%
All judges nationally62.9%
Decisions on the merits
119
Asylum granted
29
Other relief granted
6
Denied
84
Against own court
+8.3 pts
Denial rate by fiscal year
FY25
71%

Read from TRAC's chart to the nearest point. Years with fewer than 25 decisions are not shown.

Docket

Respondents represented by counsel: 76% (nationally, 81% are represented).

Most common nationalities: Brazil (29.4%), Guatemala (14.3%), Dominican Republic (9.2%), Ecuador (7.6%), Angola (5%).

Official biography

Donald R. Ostrom was appointed as an immigration judge to begin hearing cases in November 2023. Judge Ostrom ear ned a Bachelor of Science in 2000 from George Mason University, a Juris Doctor in 2003 from Capital University Law School, and a Master of Laws in Military Law in 2009 from the United States Army Judge Advocate General's School. From 2003 to 2023, he served as a judge advocate in the U.S. Navy, which culminated in his service as the Circuit Trial Judge, Navy and Marine Corps Trial Judiciary in Norfolk, Virginia. From 1990 to 1995, Judge Ostrom served in the U.S. Marine Corps. Judge Ostrom is a member of the Ohio State Bar.

As published by the Executive Office for Immigration Review at appointment, via TRAC.

In the record

No published reporting or appellate decisions naming this judge have been collected yet.

Other judges at Chelmsford

Court page →

About these figures. Denial rates describe outcomes in the cases a judge happened to hear, which differ by detention, nationality and representation. They are not a measure of fairness or competence. Method and sources are on the judges index.