On Thursday, July 3, 2025, FOX 8 New Orleans reported that the backlog of immigration cases in U.S. immigration courts has surpassed 3.7 million, according to data from the Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse (TRAC) at Syracuse University. With only approximately 700 immigration judges across 71 courts nationwide, the system faces significant strain, leading to prolonged delays in case processing.
In New Orleans, the shortage of judges has created substantial bottlenecks, as noted by local immigration attorney Maria O’Byrne Stephenson, senior partner at Stephenson, Chavari and Dawson, LLC. She highlighted that the limited number of judges has delayed some of her asylum cases for up to a decade. Currently, six immigration judges handle cases at the federal court in New Orleans, a number insufficient to address the growing caseload.
The situation has been exacerbated by recent administrative decisions. Earlier this year, the Department of Justice dismissed three immigration judges in New Orleans, part of a broader reduction of two dozen judges nationwide, including an entire incoming class. This move has drawn criticism amid calls for increasing judicial resources to manage the influx of cases, which has seen over 400,000 new cases added since January 2025.
Harry Rosenberg, a former U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Louisiana from 1990 to 1993, noted a shift in prosecutorial focus under the current administration. Assistant U.S. Attorneys, typically assigned to cases involving public corruption or drug offenses, are increasingly handling immigration matters, reflecting a prioritization of immigration enforcement. In some instances, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials have bypassed court proceedings when sufficient evidence allows for immediate deportation, yet the backlog persists.
Matt Biggs, president of the International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers, emphasized the complexity and significance of immigration cases. He noted that these cases, which often involve asylum seekers, carry high stakes, where errors could have life-threatening consequences. Biggs referenced past calls from Congress and the previous administration to hire more judges to ensure due process, alongside support staff like translators and schedulers. However, the recent dismissals have hindered progress, placing additional pressure on judges, their staff, and the limited pool of immigration attorneys.
Source: FOX 8 New Orleans
