A report based on figures from the Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse (TRAC), at Syracuse University, exposed the extent of delays and backlogs in U.S. immigration courts. The numbers reveal a historic backlog affecting millions of cases.
Wait times continue to grow, with certain states accounting for a significant share of unresolved cases.
A growing collapse in immigration justice
Data analyzed by TRAC shows that there are nearly 3.7 million pending cases in immigration courts, a figure that includes almost two million formal asylum applications. According to the report, the average case remains unresolved for about 636 days, a more than five percent increase compared to the previous year.
This delay occurs amid simultaneous pressure on the other major institution in the immigration system: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), which faces a record 11.3 million pending applications. Several immigration categories experienced even longer processing times between January and March, worsening uncertainty for thousands of applicants.
States with the largest backlogs
The state-level analysis conducted with TRAC data reveals that the backlog is not evenly distributed. According to the breakdown, Florida leads the list with 523,295 pending cases, followed by Texas with 410,944, California with 373,548, New York with 338,388, New Jersey with 223,871, and Illinois with 222,616.
Together, these six states account for a considerable portion of the national total. Among them, courts with particularly high caseloads stand out, such as the one in Miami, which exceeds 311,000 unresolved cases. According to TRAC, these regions handle such large volumes that delays can stretch for several years.
Factors behind the increase in delays
Experts point to a critical combination of issues facing the system: a steady rise in cases, shifting immigration policies, and a recent reduction in the number of available judges.
At the beginning of the year, there were nearly 700 immigration judges, but after several layoffs, including eight in New York City, the number dropped to fewer than 600, according to the National Association of Immigration Judges.
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Amelia Wilson, a law professor and director of an immigration legal clinic, explained to the media that a reduction in the national backlog does not necessarily mean improvements. According to her, part of that reduction is due to stricter restrictions on who can access full hearings, detention of asylum seekers, and expedited deportations. She also warned that replacing experienced judges with attorneys who have little or no training in immigration law could lead to even more serious delays in case reviews.
Impact on immigrants and institutions
For asylum seekers, the average wait time of 636 days means years of uncertainty regarding their legal status and chances of family reunification. TRAC noted that in overburdened courts, it becomes difficult to thoroughly evaluate each case, increasing pressure on a system already operating beyond its capacity.
Meanwhile, USCIS, which is funded by fees paid by applicants themselves, faces its own administrative bottlenecks. The increase in unprocessed applications forces immigrants to wait much longer for work permits, green cards, or other essential benefits.
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