Immigration courts across the United States now have a combined backlog exceeding 3.8 million pending cases, the highest figure ever recorded. Average wait times for a hearing have stretched to nearly five years in some jurisdictions.
The Department of Justice has announced plans to hire 150 additional immigration judges by year-end, but legal aid organizations say the effort falls far short of what is needed to restore timely adjudication.
Asylum seekers and their attorneys report that prolonged uncertainty takes a severe toll on mental health and economic stability, with many unable to obtain work authorization while cases remain pending.
