The US immigration system has been heavily criticized for its inefficiencies and long wait times, leaving many migrants waiting years for their cases to be heard in court. The backlog has only worsened during the pandemic, with court closures and restrictions on immigration leading to further delays.
The situation has left many migrants, including asylum seekers and those seeking permanent residency, in limbo for years as they wait for their cases to be heard. According to a report by the Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse (TRAC) at Syracuse University, the immigration court backlog had surpassed 1.3 million cases as of September 2021, with an average wait time of over 1,200 days.
The backlog has also resulted in a number of legal challenges, with several lawsuits being filed against the government over the delays. In one recent case, a federal judge ordered the government to provide certain migrants with a hearing date within 60 days, after they had been waiting for over two years.
The situation has also led to increased pressure on the immigration courts, with some judges being forced to handle hundreds of cases at a time. This has led to concerns over the quality of justice being served, as judges may not have enough time to adequately review cases and make informed decisions.
While the Biden administration has pledged to address the backlog, it remains to be seen whether they will be able to make significant progress given the sheer volume of cases and the limited resources of the immigration court system. In the meantime, many migrants continue to wait in uncertainty, hoping for a chance at a better life in the US.