The Executive Office for Immigration Review reports that the immigration court backlog has surpassed three million pending cases, with average wait times for a hearing now exceeding four years in many jurisdictions. The growing caseload has strained an already overburdened system.
Immigration attorneys say the delays leave respondents in legal limbo, unable to work legally or plan for their futures while their cases remain unresolved. Some judges are handling over 2,000 cases simultaneously.
Proposed reforms include hiring additional immigration judges, expanding the use of legal representation programs, and implementing case management technology to streamline proceedings.
