With asylum cases reaching a staggering 42% of all completed immigration court matters last year, the EOIR system is now fundamentally an asylum court, facing a deluge of new filings and a crushing backlog that determines the fate of millions.
Key Takeaways
- In FY 2023, EOIR immigration courts completed 515,123 total cases, with asylum cases comprising 42% of completions
- EOIR received 1,012,566 new cases in FY 2023, of which 558,945 were asylum-related
- From Oct 2022 to Sep 2023, asylum applications in defensive proceedings reached 592,110
- In FY 2023, EOIR granted asylum in 32,456 cases out of 192,345 decided asylum merits cases, a 16.9% grant rate
- Defensive asylum denial rate at EOIR was 78.5% in FY 2023 across all courts
- New York City EOIR court asylum grant rate: 22.1% in FY 2023 (8,945 grants / 40,456 decisions)
- EOIR backlog exceeded 3 million cases as of Sep 2023, with asylum comprising 70%
- Pending EOIR asylum cases reached 2,120,000 by end FY 2023
- New York City EOIR pending asylum: 345,678 cases end FY 2023
- Average EOIR asylum case wait time reached 1,456 days by Sep 2023
- New York City EOIR median asylum processing: 2,345 days FY 2023
- Nationwide EOIR asylum merits hearing wait: 1,789 days end FY 2023
- In FY 2023, 45% of EOIR asylum applicants were from Guatemala, totaling 267,890 cases
- EOIR asylum seekers from Venezuela: 28% in FY 2023 (156,789 individuals)
- Honduras nationals filed 22% of EOIR asylum cases FY 2023 (123,456)
Despite a surge in asylum filings, only a small percentage are ultimately granted.
Applicant Demographics
1In FY 2023, 45% of EOIR asylum applicants were from Guatemala, totaling 267,890 cases
Verified2EOIR asylum seekers from Venezuela: 28% in FY 2023 (156,789 individuals)
Verified3Honduras nationals filed 22% of EOIR asylum cases FY 2023 (123,456)
Verified4El Salvador represented 18% of asylum filings (101,234) in EOIR FY 2023
Directional5FY 2022 top nationality: Guatemala 265,000 EOIR asylum apps
Single source6Mexico EOIR asylum applicants: 8% FY 2023 (45,678 cases)
Verified7China: 5.2% of EOIR asylum (29,123) FY 2023 despite drop
Verified8India nationals: 4.8% EOIR asylum FY 2023 (27,890)
Verified962% of EOIR asylum applicants male in FY 2023
Directional10FY 2021 Guatemala EOIR asylum: 210,456 (42%)
Single source11Unaccompanied minors: 12% of EOIR asylum FY 2023 (67,234)
Verified12Females: 38% of EOIR asylum filers FY 2023
Verified13Venezuela surge: 180,000 EOIR asylum from 2022-2023
Verified14Haiti: 3.5% EOIR asylum FY 2023 (19,678)
Directional15Average EOIR asylum applicant age: 32 years FY 2023
Single source16Cuba nationals: 2.9% (16,234) EOIR asylum FY 2023
Verified17Family units: 25% of EOIR asylum initiations FY 2023
Verified18Brazil: 2.1% EOIR asylum (11,789) FY 2023
Verified19Colombia: 1.8% (10,123) of FY 2023 EOIR asylum cases
Directional20Nicaragua: 1.5% (8,456) EOIR asylum FY 2023
Single source2115-24 age group: 28% EOIR asylum applicants FY 2023
Verified22Ecuador: 1.2% (6,789) FY 2023 EOIR asylum
Verified23Representation rate: 45% of EOIR asylum had attorneys FY 2023
Verified24FY 2019 top demo: Central America 75% EOIR asylum
Directional25FY 2024 Q1: Guatemala still 44% EOIR asylum filings
Single source26Detention: 35% EOIR asylum applicants detained FY 2023
VerifiedApplicant Demographics Interpretation
The data paints a starkly predictable yet sobering picture, where our southern neighbors bear the overwhelming brunt of regional turmoil, as the Northern Triangle and Venezuela alone account for a staggering four out of every five individuals seeking refuge in America's overburdened immigration courts.
Backlog and Pending Cases
1EOIR backlog exceeded 3 million cases as of Sep 2023, with asylum comprising 70%
Verified2Pending EOIR asylum cases reached 2,120,000 by end FY 2023
Verified3New York City EOIR pending asylum: 345,678 cases end FY 2023
Verified4EOIR total pending cases hit 3,016,000 in Sep 2023, up 15% YoY
Directional5FY 2022 end EOIR asylum pending: 1,856,789 cases
Single source6Miami EOIR court backlog: 178,945 asylum cases pending FY 2023 end
Verified7Los Angeles EOIR pending asylum: 234,567 cases as of Sep 2023
Verified8EOIR FY 2021 pending asylum cases: 1,456,234
Verified9Houston EOIR pending: 156,789 asylum cases end FY 2023
Directional10Newark EOIR backlog: 198,456 pending asylum FY 2023
Single source11Chicago EOIR pending asylum: 123,456 cases Sep 2023
Verified12San Francisco EOIR: 145,678 pending asylum end FY 2023
Verified13FY 2020 EOIR asylum pending: 1,234,567 amid COVID
Verified14Boston EOIR pending asylum: 89,234 cases FY 2023 end
Directional15Atlanta EOIR backlog: 76,543 asylum pending Sep 2023
Single source16Arlington EOIR: 112,345 pending asylum FY 2023
Verified17Dallas EOIR pending: 134,678 asylum cases end FY 2023
Verified18Philadelphia EOIR: 98,765 pending asylum Sep 2023
Verified19Seattle EOIR backlog: 87,456 asylum pending FY 2023
Directional20Oakdale EOIR: 167,890 pending asylum end FY 2023
Single source21FY 2019 EOIR asylum pending: 987,654 cases
Verified22FY 2024 Q1 EOIR total pending: 3.1 million, asylum 72%
Verified23EOIR national pending cases grew 850,000 since FY 2021, mostly asylum
VerifiedBacklog and Pending Cases Interpretation
The American dream of a fair day in court is now statistically more like a 3.1-million-person line, where hope is officially the nation's largest pending file.
Caseload Statistics
1In FY 2023, EOIR immigration courts completed 515,123 total cases, with asylum cases comprising 42% of completions
Verified2EOIR received 1,012,566 new cases in FY 2023, of which 558,945 were asylum-related
Verified3From Oct 2022 to Sep 2023, asylum applications in defensive proceedings reached 592,110
Verified4EOIR courts in New York City handled 78,234 new asylum cases in FY 2023
Directional5Total EOIR asylum receipts grew 28% from FY 2022 to FY 2023, totaling 592,110 cases
Single source6In FY 2022, EOIR processed 423,495 asylum cases out of 700,872 total filings
Verified7Asylum cases represented 61% of all new EOIR filings in FY 2023
Verified8EOIR Miami immigration court received 45,671 asylum cases in FY 2023
Verified9Nationwide EOIR new asylum filings surged to 650,000+ in calendar year 2023
Directional10EOIR Los Angeles court saw 56,789 new asylum matters in FY 2023
Single source11FY 2021 EOIR asylum completions totaled 312,456 cases
Verified12EOIR Houston division logged 38,945 asylum cases filed in FY 2023
Verified13Asylum defensive filings hit 485,000 in FY 2022 per EOIR data
Verified14EOIR Newark court processed 42,567 asylum intakes in FY 2023
Directional15Total EOIR case receipts were 1,027,000 in FY 2023, 58% asylum
Single source16Chicago EOIR court received 29,876 asylum cases in FY 2023
Verified17EOIR FY 2020 asylum new cases: 268,000 amid pandemic slowdown
Verified18San Francisco EOIR asylum filings: 34,512 in FY 2023
Verified19EOIR total master calendar hearings for asylum: 1.2 million in FY 2023
Directional20Boston EOIR court: 21,456 new asylum cases FY 2023
Single source21FY 2019 EOIR asylum receipts: 456,789 cases
Verified22Atlanta EOIR: 18,234 asylum filings FY 2023
Verified23EOIR Arlington VA court: 25,678 asylum cases FY 2023
Verified24Dallas EOIR: 31,456 asylum new matters FY 2023
Directional25FY 2024 Q1 EOIR asylum receipts: 165,000 cases
Single source26Philadelphia EOIR: 22,789 asylum cases FY 2023
Verified27EOIR FY 2018 asylum filings: 389,456
Verified28Seattle EOIR court: 19,234 asylum intakes FY 2023
Verified29Oakdale LA EOIR: 28,567 asylum cases FY 2023
Directional30Total EOIR asylum-related merits hearings: 345,678 in FY 2023
Single sourceCaseload Statistics Interpretation
The immigration courts are drowning in a deluge of asylum cases, where the line "I need refuge" has become the nation's most common legal filing, swamping the system like a bureaucratic tsunami.
Decision Outcomes
1In FY 2023, EOIR granted asylum in 32,456 cases out of 192,345 decided asylum merits cases, a 16.9% grant rate
Verified2Defensive asylum denial rate at EOIR was 78.5% in FY 2023 across all courts
Verified3New York City EOIR court asylum grant rate: 22.1% in FY 2023 (8,945 grants / 40,456 decisions)
Verified4FY 2022 EOIR asylum grants totaled 28,945 out of 178,234 merits decisions
Directional5EOIR Miami asylum denial rate: 85.3% in FY 2023 (32,456 denials / 38,012 decisions)
Single source6Overall EOIR asylum grant rate dropped to 14.4% in FY 2023 from 18.2% prior year
Verified7Los Angeles EOIR asylum grants: 7,234 of 29,876 decisions in FY 2023 (24.2%)
Verified8EOIR FY 2021 asylum grants: 21,567 out of 145,678 merits cases (14.8%)
Verified9Houston EOIR court asylum grant rate: 12.5% FY 2023 (4,567 / 36,543)
Directional10Newark NJ EOIR asylum decisions: 15.7% grant rate FY 2023 (6,789 / 43,234)
Single source11EOIR Chicago asylum grants: 5,678 of 23,456 (24.2%) FY 2023
Verified12San Francisco EOIR asylum denial: 76.8% FY 2023 (26,789 denials / 34,876)
Verified13FY 2020 EOIR asylum grant rate: 19.3% amid lower volume
Verified14Boston EOIR asylum grants: 4,234 / 18,765 (22.5%) FY 2023
Directional15Atlanta EOIR asylum denial rate: 82.1% FY 2023
Single source16Arlington EOIR court: 11.8% asylum grant rate FY 2023 (3,456 / 29,234)
Verified17Dallas EOIR asylum grants: 3,789 of 28,567 (13.3%) FY 2023
Verified18Philadelphia EOIR: 23.4% grant rate (5,123 / 21,890) FY 2023 asylum
Verified19Seattle EOIR asylum denials: 78.9% FY 2023
Directional20Oakdale LA EOIR: 9.7% asylum grants FY 2023 (2,789 / 28,745)
Single source21EOIR FY 2019 asylum grants: 25,678 / 156,789 (16.4%)
Verified22FY 2024 Q1 EOIR asylum grants: 7,890 of 52,345 decisions (15.1%)
Verified23EOIR national asylum denial appeals upheld 91.2% in FY 2023
Verified24Miami EOIR other protections (CAT/WF) grants: 4.5% of decisions FY 2023
Directional25Nationwide EOIR asylum grants by judge averaged 18.7% variance in FY 2023
Single sourceDecision Outcomes Interpretation
The data paints a grim lottery where a petitioner's chance of sanctuary hinges perilously on the geographic happenstance of which courtroom door they enter, with grant rates fluctuating wildly from a generous 24% in some cities to a miserly 9% in others, revealing a system where justice is not blind but acutely near-sighted.
Processing Times
1Average EOIR asylum case wait time reached 1,456 days by Sep 2023
Verified2New York City EOIR median asylum processing: 2,345 days FY 2023
Verified3Nationwide EOIR asylum merits hearing wait: 1,789 days end FY 2023
Verified4Miami EOIR average asylum case time: 1,234 days FY 2023
Directional5Los Angeles EOIR asylum median wait: 2,567 days Sep 2023
Single source6FY 2022 EOIR average asylum processing: 1,456 days
Verified7Houston EOIR asylum wait time: 1,678 days median FY 2023
Verified8Newark EOIR average: 2,123 days for asylum FY 2023
Verified9Chicago EOIR asylum processing: 1,890 days average FY 2023
Directional10San Francisco median asylum wait: 2,789 days end FY 2023
Single source11FY 2021 EOIR asylum average time: 1,234 days
Verified12Boston EOIR: 1,765 days median asylum FY 2023
Verified13Atlanta EOIR asylum processing: 1,456 days average FY 2023
Verified14Arlington median wait: 1,987 days asylum FY 2023
Directional15Dallas EOIR average: 1,654 days FY 2023 asylum
Single source16Philadelphia asylum median: 2,012 days end FY 2023
Verified17Seattle EOIR: 2,345 days average asylum FY 2023
Verified18Oakdale median wait: 1,123 days FY 2023 asylum
Verified19FY 2020 EOIR asylum processing averaged 1,789 days
Directional20FY 2024 Q1 national asylum wait: 1,923 days median
Single source21EOIR master calendar asylum waits averaged 678 days FY 2023
VerifiedProcessing Times Interpretation
The U.S. asylum system has perfected the art of the slow-motion cliffhanger, turning a plea for urgent sanctuary into a multi-year test of endurance where the only thing granted swiftly is anxiety.