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

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

Immigration judges

Mark Sameit

Immigration Judge, Otay Mesa Immigration Court. Appointed October 2021.

LenientGrants more often than the national average-7.5 points

Asylum record, FY 2021-2026

TRAC source →
Judge Sameit55.4%
Otay Mesa court56.2%
All judges nationally62.9%
Decisions on the merits
424
Asylum granted
127
Other relief granted
62
Denied
235
Against own court
-0.8 pts
Denial rate by fiscal year
FY22FY23FY24FY25FY26
68%50%64%45%67%

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

Docket

Respondents represented by counsel: 79% (nationally, 81% are represented).

Most common nationalities: Russia (21.9%), Mexico (10.4%), Colombia (4.5%), Georgia (4.5%), El Salvador (4%).

Official biography

Mark D. Sameit was appointed as an Immigration Judge to begin hearing cases in October 2021. Judge Sameit ear ned a Bachelor of Science in 2000 from the University of Virginia, a Juris Doctor in 2008 from William and Mary Law School, and a Master of Laws in 2012 from the Judge Advocate General's Legal Center and School. From 2008 to 2021, he served as a Judge Advocate in the U.S. Marine Corps in the following locations: Okinawa, Japan; Camp Pendleton, California; Quantico, Virginia; and Arlington, Virginia. While serving as a Marine Judge Advocate, he served in various positions including Staff Judge Advocate, Military Judge, Supervisory Trial Counsel, Defense Counsel, and Director of the Marine Corps' Trial Counsel Assistance Program. From 2000 to 2005, he served as an Aviation Supply Officer in the U.S. Marine Corps at Marine Corps Air Station in Miramar, California, and Okinawa, Japan. Judge Sameit is a member of the District of Columbia 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 Otay Mesa

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.