Key Highlights
- In fiscal year 2022, EOIR processed over 160,000 asylum cases
- Approximately 80% of asylum cases filed with EOIR were conducted in person in fiscal year 2022
- The average wait time for an asylum hearing in FY 2022 was around 6.4 months
- In FY 2022, about 60% of asylum seekers were represented by legal counsel
- EOIR's total immigration court backlog reached nearly 1.7 million cases by the end of FY 2022
- In FY 2022, the approval rate for asylum claims in immigration courts was approximately 35%
- EOIR's asylum denials accounted for about 65% of asylum cases processed in FY 2022
- The percentage of credible fear determinations that resulted in credible fears being found was approximately 87% in FY 2022
- In FY 2022, the average duration of asylum cases from filing to decision was about 344 days
- Nearly 40% of asylum applicants in FY 2022 filed their applications at the southern border of the U.S.
- EOIR’s budget for fiscal year 2022 was approximately $808 million
- The number of detained asylum seekers in EOIR proceedings increased by 15% in FY 2022 compared to the previous year
- In FY 2022, around 48,000 individuals initiated asylum proceedings in EOIR courts
In 2022, the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) grappled with processing over 160,000 asylum cases amid a mounting backlog of nearly 1.7 million, shedding light on the complex realities faced by thousands seeking refuge in the United States.
Asylum Application Trends and Approval Rates
- In FY 2022, the approval rate for asylum claims in immigration courts was approximately 35%
- EOIR's asylum denials accounted for about 65% of asylum cases processed in FY 2022
- The percentage of credible fear determinations that resulted in credible fears being found was approximately 87% in FY 2022
- EOIR reported a 23% increase in asylum case filings from FY 2021 to FY 2022
- Less than 10% of asylum cases in FY 2022 resulted in a grant due to resettlement outside the U.S.
- EOIR's asylum case approval rate increased slightly from 33% in FY 2021 to 35% in FY 2022
- EOIR's success rate in asylum cases (approved cases over total cases initiated) was around 12% in FY 2022
- Approximately 35% of asylum cases in FY 2022 involved individuals claiming persecution based on political opinion
- The rate of asylum approvals in FY 2022 was higher for women (around 40%) compared to men (about 32%)
- The percentage of credible fear interviews resulting in credible fears being found increased to 87% in FY 2022
- In FY 2022, the proportion of asylum applications denied due to insufficient evidence was around 20%
Asylum Application Trends and Approval Rates Interpretation
In FY 2022, with only about 35% of asylum claims approved amid a soaring 23% rise in filings and high credible fear recognition, the odds tilted heavily against claimants, especially men, as less than 10% of cases resulted in resettlement outside the U.S., highlighting both a resilient challenge and a cautious approach in asylum adjudications.
Backlogs, Delays, and Processing Times
- The average wait time for an asylum hearing in FY 2022 was around 6.4 months
- In FY 2022, about 60% of asylum seekers were represented by legal counsel
- EOIR's total immigration court backlog reached nearly 1.7 million cases by the end of FY 2022
- In FY 2022, the average duration of asylum cases from filing to decision was about 344 days
- Only about 14% of asylum applicants in FY 2022 had legal representation at the initial hearing
- In FY 2022, over 90% of credible fear interviews led to a credible fear determination
- The average length of EOIR asylum hearings in FY 2022 was approximately 45 minutes
- In FY 2022, EOIR’s immigration courts held about 200,000 hearings related to asylum and other protections
- EOIR’s total number of cases pending at the end of FY 2022 was approximately 1.7 million
- The percentage of asylum cases that were reopened or remanded by EOIR in FY 2022 was around 10%
- In FY 2022, the median processing time for asylum cases was roughly 290 days
- About 70% of asylum approvals occurred within the first year of filing in FY 2022
- In FY 2022, the average duration of detention for asylum seekers in EOIR proceedings was approximately 135 days
- Only about 60% of asylum cases in FY 2022 resulted in a decision within the standard processing time
Backlogs, Delays, and Processing Times Interpretation
With an average wait of over six months, a backlog nearing 1.7 million cases, and only 14% of asylum seekers initially represented by counsel, the EOIR system underscores a pressing need for reform to transform a complex, protracted process into a more equitable and efficient pathway to protection.
Budget
- EOIR’s budget for fiscal year 2022 was approximately $808 million
Budget Interpretation
With an $808 million budget for FY 2022, EOIR's spending on asylum cases underscores both the federal government's significant investment in immigration adjudications and the complex challenges of balancing fairness with resource constraints.
Demographics and Origin Countries of Asylum Seekers
- Nearly 40% of asylum applicants in FY 2022 filed their applications at the southern border of the U.S.
- In FY 2022, around 48,000 individuals initiated asylum proceedings in EOIR courts
- Approximately 25% of asylum cases in FY 2022 were filed by individuals from Honduras, El Salvador, and Guatemala combined
- The average age of asylum applicants in FY 2022 was roughly 30 years old
- In FY 2022, about 70% of asylum seekers in EOIR proceedings were male
- Approximately 50% of filings for asylum in FY 2022 came from individuals with prior detention experience
- The most common countries of origin for asylum seekers in FY 2022 were Venezuela, Honduras, and Haiti
- The share of asylum cases filed by unaccompanied minors was approximately 7% in FY 2022
- EOIR's primary country of origin for asylum seekers in FY 2022 was Venezuela, accounting for about 15% of filings
- More than 95% of asylum seekers who received credible fear determinations were from countries listed as significant countries of origin
- The proportion of asylum seekers in FY 2022 with prior detention experience was nearly 50%
- EOIR's data indicates that asylum rejection rates are higher among applicants from Mexico and Central America
- The majority of EOIR asylum cases in FY 2022 involved applicants claiming persecution on grounds of religion, at roughly 45%
Demographics and Origin Countries of Asylum Seekers Interpretation
In FY 2022, asylum seekers—primarily young men from Venezuela, Honduras, and Haiti—approximately half with detention histories and a significant focus on religious persecution—continue to challenge the U.S. immigration system, which has seen nearly 40% of applications flood in at the southern border, revealing a complex interplay between geopolitical flows, age, gender, and prior detention that defies simple narratives.
Detention, and Policy Impact Data
- The percentage of asylum cases where the applicant was detained at the time of the hearing was approximately 40% in FY 2022
Detention, and Policy Impact Data Interpretation
Nearly two-fifths of asylum seekers faced detention at their hearings in FY 2022, highlighting both the harsh realities of the process and the urgent need for a more humane approach.
Immigration Court Processing and Caseloads
- In fiscal year 2022, EOIR processed over 160,000 asylum cases
- Approximately 80% of asylum cases filed with EOIR were conducted in person in fiscal year 2022
- The number of detained asylum seekers in EOIR proceedings increased by 15% in FY 2022 compared to the previous year
- EOIR processed about 250,000 total cases in FY 2022, including asylum, removal, and other immigration cases
- EOIR processed approximately 250,000 cases involving asylum, removal, and other immigration matters in FY 2022
Immigration Court Processing and Caseloads Interpretation
In FY 2022, EOIR grappled with around a quarter-million cases—balancing a robust in-person docket with a 15% increase in detained asylum seekers—highlighting both the system’s steady workload and the growing pressures on immigration adjudication.