A staggering backlog of three million pending immigration cases has been reported in the United States, with one million of those cases added in the past year alone. This information comes from a report by the Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse (TRAC) at Syracuse University. The backlog has reached unprecedented levels, with immigration judges currently handling an average of 4,500 cases each. TRAC’s report highlights the long-standing challenge of addressing the Immigration Court backlog, which has become even more daunting in recent years.
The situation at the Southern Border continues to exacerbate the backlog crisis. Eagle Pass, Texas, is currently facing an influx of migrants, with over 4,000 individuals crossing illegally on Monday alone. This adds to the more than 4,000 migrants already in custody. The backlog has grown significantly in recent months, with an increase of nearly 400,000 cases from July to September, averaging around 130,000 new cases per month. The growth rate has accelerated further in October and November, with an average of 140,000 new cases per month.
To put the current backlog into perspective, in September 2016, there were 516,031 pending cases, which is roughly one-sixth of the current total. During the Obama administration’s final fiscal year, there were 278 immigration judges who completed an average of approximately 750 cases each year, while being assigned an average caseload of 1,850 per judge. However, during the Trump administration, the backlog increased significantly. By September 2020, it had grown two and a half times compared to September 2016, with 484 judges handling an average caseload of around 2,600 per judge.
Under the Biden administration, efforts to address the backlog have included hiring new judges. Currently, there are 682 immigration judges in service, and they have been able to close an average of around 975 cases per judge during the latest fiscal year. This closure rate is nearly a third higher than seven years ago during the final year of the Obama administration. Despite these efforts, the number of incoming cases still exceeds the capacity to process them, resulting in an average caseload of 4,500 per judge.
The situation in Eagle Pass, Texas, highlights the urgency of the Southern Border crisis. Video footage shows thousands of migrants waiting to be processed by Border Patrol after crossing illegally. The overwhelming number of migrants crossing the border further strains the already burdened immigration system.
In conclusion, the Immigration Court backlog has reached an alarming three million pending cases, with a significant increase in the past year. The Southern Border crisis continues to exacerbate the backlog, with Eagle Pass, Texas, experiencing a surge in illegal crossings. Despite efforts to address the issue, the number of incoming cases exceeds the capacity of immigration judges, resulting in a growing average caseload per judge. The situation calls for immediate attention and comprehensive solutions to address the challenges at hand.
