In recent times, the United States has experienced one of the biggest border crises to date. In fact, congestion in the Immigration Court has become a monumental problem that needs priority attention.
Every day, immigrants arrive with complicated legal situations and must navigate a slow and painstaking immigration process. For this reason, the team at Jaskot Law will inform you about this issue and what the future holds for the immigration situation.
The current situation in the immigration court
The problem with the current border crisis is that immigration officials have outgrown their ability to process cases in a timely manner. In this way, more than three million pending cases were generated.
The total waiting time for each of these cases exceeds five years. It is hoped that the federal government has some plan to deal with this overwhelming situation. However, nothing has been clarified at this time.
Alarming records in immigration court
According to a report by the Transactional Records Access and Information Center (TRAC) at Syracuse University, by November 30, 2023, there were already 3,075,248 cases pending in U.S. Immigration Court. This figure has continued to increase since then.
As a result of the massive number of cases, millions of people were left adrift due to legal uncertainty. Moreover, this momentous number marks an all-time high for the nation, as opposed to the two million cases recorded in November 2022.
Causes of the Border Crisis
In recent years, the situation at the border became unmanageable for government officials, especially during the pandemic. The global crisis drove millions of people to seek refuge in the United States. Since Joe Biden’s arrival, immigration policy has shown a more compassionate tone.
This, coupled with the lack of organization on the southern border, has led to unprecedented numbers of migrants crossing the border, sometimes undocumented. In addition, there are not enough resources to manage this situation. If you require more information, do not hesitate to contact the team at Jaskot Law, which will be able to help you.
The future of pending immigration cases
Currently, the Office of Immigration Review (EOIR) has 682 practicing immigration judges, and each judge closed approximately 975 cases during the last fiscal year. Although Biden increased the number of judges in EOIR and the number of cases they handle individually, it appears that it is not enough.
Jaime Barron, an immigration attorney in Texas, stated the following:
“We are at the mercy of judicial decisions. Cases awaiting benefits such as legal permanent residency or adjustment of status are being postponed, and rulings are delayed.”
The increase in the number of immigration judges must go hand in hand with the growing population of migrants who require answers to their immigration cases. Therefore, it is imperative that officials, whether Republican or Democrat, reach agreements on how to mitigate the crisis at the border.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the border crisis and the immigration crisis at the U.S. Immigration Court demands immediate and bipartisan action to alleviate the overwhelming caseload. The lack of resolutions impacts millions of people awaiting crucial answers.
Stay informed about this evolving situation and the migration landscape in general. Jaskot Law’s team of lawyers is committed to sharing the latest news with the community.
Sources
As migration surges, immigration court case backlog swells to over 3 million
Office of Immigration Case Review (EOIR)
Frequently Asked Questions
How does the lack of bipartisan agreement affect the resolution of immigration cases?
The lack of political consensus between Republicans and Democrats exacerbates the crisis by delaying important decisions and prolonging uncertainty for applicants awaiting updates on their immigration status.
What role does the lack of organization at the border play in judicial congestion?
The lack of organization contributes to the increase of undocumented migrants, as it overloads resources and creates difficulties in handling cases in the Immigration Court efficiently.
Why is it essential to increase the number of immigration judges?
The increase would ensure greater capacity to resolve pending cases, which reduces waiting times and allows migrants to get answers more quickly.
