Backlog of Pending Cases in Immigration Courts as of August 2020; Figure 1. Chicago’s immigration court is still hearing those cases amid the outbreak, but virtually. Judges in Dallas have contacted the union, concerned their health is being put at risk.
Cases currently in the queue have already been waiting on average over 26 months as of now, and may still have to wait years longer before their hearing is actually scheduled to occur. The Justice Department agency has given virtually no explanation on what public health data it is using to determine if courtrooms are safe, said Ashley Tabaddor, a Los Angeles-based immigration judge speaking in her capacity as president of the National Association of Immigration Judges union. ". The Washington Post reported last week that the Department of Justice (DOJ) "is aiming to slash the massive immigration court backlog in half by 2020 by adding judges, upgrading technology and refusing to tolerate repeated delays in deportation cases.". Judge Samuel Cole said in Chicago, there are only 10 judges that preside over thousands of cases. Many, she said, are concerned about the COVID-19 outbreak as well. One of her clients reportedly took a coronavirus test but did not receive the results. On these 507 were successful and the judge granted their asylum request while 11 more received other forms of relief which allowed them to remain in this country. Immigration courts are often housed in office buildings – not courthouses – making it particularly difficult for people to spread apart because the rooms are small, Tabaddor said, adding that there is also little ventilation, especially in older buildings. Since March 21, using public health measures during the coronavirus pandemic, the Trump Administration has been turning away those fleeing persecution at the border. Due to the pandemic, though, and motor vehicle agencies shutting down nationwide, the federal government has decided to push back the date. When asked how her clients were practicing social distancing, Cartwright said one was put in segregation. INDIANAPOLIS – The Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) has confirmed the Real ID deadline has been pushed back to Oct. 1, 2021.

Few of these had been assigned to MPP since March, but that recently changed. SEE: Cartoons on the 2020 Presidential Election ] There’s status hearings. The Syracuse University-based TRAC Center’s new report reveals that administrative closure has helped reduce the immigration court’s backlog, currently at more than 1.2 million cases and climbing. For example, back in January this rate was 75 percent.

Children of all ages now make up 10% of all U.S cases, up from 2% in April, the American Academy of Pediatrics reported Tuesday. “COVID-19 is spreading throughout immigration detention right now. Texas has been reporting a record number of coronavirus cases, and its governor has warned the state may have to return to a lockdown to get things under control. In August just 6,113 cases were completed. “It can be very startling.”. “We keep coming back to ‘what numbers are you using? From a September 18 press release from TRAC (Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse).