At the end of FY 2023, the Immigration Courts were carrying a backlog of 3,016,464 pending cases, a 431% jump since FY 2012. Relief outcomes were just as uneven, with judges granting some form of protection in 38.1% of completed cases while asylum grant rates for represented applicants fell to 36.5%. Pulling these threads together, the rest of the statistics show how case delays, representation, nationality, and case type can push outcomes in sharply different directions.
Key Takeaways
- In FY 2023, immigration judges granted relief in 38.1% of completed cases overall
- Asylum grant rate was 36.5% for represented applicants in FY 2023, down from 47% in FY 2022
- Removal orders issued in 52% of cases decided in FY 2023
- As of the end of FY 2023, the Immigration Courts had a backlog of 3,016,464 pending cases, representing a 431% increase since FY 2012
- In FY 2022, Immigration Courts received 733,978 new cases, contributing to the growing backlog
- The backlog grew by 318,422 cases in FY 2023 alone, driven by new filings exceeding completions
- EOIR employed 723 immigration judges as of September 2023
- FY 2023 budget for EOIR was $870 million, supporting courts
- Immigration judges handled 505,000 completions in FY 2023
- The median processing time for Immigration Court cases was 1,100 days in FY 2023
- Asylum cases took an average of 1,800 days from filing to decision in FY 2023
- FY 2023 master calendar hearings averaged 45 days from NTA service
- In FY 2023, 65% of respondents were from the Northern Triangle countries
- Mexicans comprised 20% of new filings in FY 2023 Immigration Court cases
- FY 2023 saw 15% of cases involving unaccompanied minors under 18
In FY 2023, asylum denial and a soaring 3.0 million backlog defined outcomes despite limited relief.
Related reading
01 · Category
Case Outcomes and Decisions28 stats
01
In FY 2023, immigration judges granted relief in 38.1% of completed cases overall
02
Asylum grant rate was 36.5% for represented applicants in FY 2023, down from 47% in FY 2022
03
Removal orders issued in 52% of cases decided in FY 2023
04
Voluntary departure granted in 8.2% of FY 2023 completions
05
In FY 2022, 44% of asylum cases resulted in grants, varying by nationality
06
Judges terminated 12% of cases in FY 2023 due to prosecutorial discretion
07
FY 2023 cancellation of removal approved in 25% of eligible cases
08
Chinese asylum seekers had 68% grant rate in FY 2023, highest among nationalities
09
FY 2021 saw 31% overall relief grant rate amid backlog pressures
10
Removal in absentia occurred in 15% of FY 2023 decided cases
11
FY 2023 adjustment of status granted in 42% of cases
12
Nicaraguan asylum grant rate dropped to 12% in FY 2023
13
7% of FY 2023 cases ended in prosecutorial dismissal
14
Bond hearings granted release in 35% of FY 2023 requests
15
FY 2022 overall denial rate for asylum was 45%
16
Venezuelan cases had 18% grant rate in FY 2023
17
FY 2023 continuances issued in 25% of hearings, affecting outcomes
18
Unaccompanied children received relief in 52% of FY 2023 cases
19
FY 2023 withholding of removal granted at 15% rate
20
Guatemalan asylum denial rate was 82% in FY 2023
21
Administrative closure in 5% of FY 2023 completions
22
FY 2023 represented asylum seekers granted at 46%, unrepresented at 19%
23
Honduran grant rate: 22% in FY 2023
24
FY 2023 NACARA relief approved in 60% of cases
25
Salvadoran asylum grants at 28% in FY 2023
26
FY 2023 appeals sustained by BIA in 14% of cases
27
Cuban cases had 75% relief grant rate in FY 2023
28
FY 2023 U visa continuances in 30% of cases
Interpretation
Case Outcomes and Decisions Interpretation
While the odds of relief in immigration court often hinge on the lottery of nationality and legal representation, the overall picture suggests a system where the promise of asylum is more a gamble than a guarantee.
02 · Category
Caseload and Backlogs30 stats
01
As of the end of FY 2023, the Immigration Courts had a backlog of 3,016,464 pending cases, representing a 431% increase since FY 2012
02
In FY 2022, Immigration Courts received 733,978 new cases, contributing to the growing backlog
03
The backlog grew by 318,422 cases in FY 2023 alone, driven by new filings exceeding completions
04
By September 2023, pending cases in Immigration Courts exceeded 3 million for the first time
05
FY 2021 saw 1,297,888 pending cases at year-end, up from 1,276,915 the previous year
06
New asylum cases accounted for 57% of all new filings in FY 2023, exacerbating the backlog
07
The Immigration Court backlog doubled from 1.3 million in FY 2018 to over 2.6 million by FY 2022
08
In FY 2020, completions dropped to 267,000 cases amid COVID-19 disruptions, worsening backlog
09
Asylum-related cases comprised 48% of the total backlog as of September 2023
10
FY 2019 new receipts totaled 392,000 cases, but only 346,000 were completed
11
The backlog per judge averaged 5,000 cases in FY 2023, up from 300 in 2000
12
By mid-2023, New York Immigration Court had the largest backlog with over 200,000 pending cases
13
FY 2023 filings increased 15% from FY 2022, adding pressure to the backlog
14
Total pending cases rose from 2.8 million in December 2022 to 3 million by June 2023
15
Non-asylum cases made up 52% of the backlog in FY 2023
16
The backlog grew 60% between FY 2019 and FY 2023
17
FY 2018 completions were 330,000 against 415,000 receipts
18
Texas Immigration Courts held 25% of the national backlog in 2023
19
Pandemic-related delays added 500,000 cases to the backlog from 2020-2022
20
FY 2023 saw 417,000 asylum applications filed in court
21
Pending master calendar cases reached 1.2 million in FY 2023
22
Backlog growth rate was 14% year-over-year from FY 2022 to 2023
23
California courts had 400,000+ pending cases in 2023
24
Unaccompanied minors cases added 50,000 to backlog in FY 2023
25
FY 2017 backlog was 585,000, tripling by 2023
26
Border patrol referrals surged 200% from FY 2021 to 2023, fueling backlog
27
FY 2023 individual hearing cases pending: 1.8 million
28
Florida's backlog exceeded 100,000 cases by end of 2023
29
Overall caseload grew 800% since FY 1990
30
FY 2023 new NTA filings: 1.1 million
Interpretation
Caseload and Backlogs Interpretation
The Immigration Court system is now a monument of infinite waiting, where the hopeful line for a hearing grows by nearly a thousand souls a day, yet moves forward at the pace of a monument.
03 · Category
Court Resources25 stats
01
EOIR employed 723 immigration judges as of September 2023
02
FY 2023 budget for EOIR was $870 million, supporting courts
03
Immigration judges handled 505,000 completions in FY 2023
04
2,200 court staff employed in FY 2023
05
58 new judges hired in FY 2023
06
Video teleconferencing used in 70% of FY 2023 hearings
07
70 courthouses operated nationwide in FY 2023
08
FY 2023 attorney advisor hires: 150 to aid backlog
09
Judge vacancy rate was 15% in FY 2023
10
$200 million allocated for IT upgrades in FY 2023 EOIR
11
300 Board of Immigration Appeals members/staff in FY 2023
12
FY 2023 training hours per judge: 40
13
50% of judges had 10+ years experience in FY 2023
14
EOIR case management system served 3 million cases in FY 2023
15
1,000 interpreters contracted in FY 2023
16
FY 2023 new courthouse openings: 5
17
Clerk staffing: 1 per 1,200 cases in FY 2023
18
25% increase in legal orientation programs funded in FY 2023
19
FY 2023 judge caseload target: 700 cases/year unmet
20
DHS attorneys: 2,500 in FY 2023
21
Electronic filing adopted in 80% of courts by FY 2023
22
FY 2023 overtime pay for staff: $50 million
23
120 temporary judges detailed in FY 2023
24
Library resources accessed 1 million times in FY 2023
25
FY 2023 facility expansions in 10 border courts
Interpretation
Court Resources Interpretation
For a system spending nearly a billion dollars and pushing half a million cases through the door, it's a Herculean effort just to tread water, as every new hire and tech upgrade races against a tide of vacancies and unmet targets.
More related reading
04 · Category
Processing Times and Efficiency25 stats
01
The median processing time for Immigration Court cases was 1,100 days in FY 2023
02
Asylum cases took an average of 1,800 days from filing to decision in FY 2023
03
FY 2023 master calendar hearings averaged 45 days from NTA service
04
Time to first hearing increased to 450 days in FY 2023 for non-detained cases
05
FY 2022 detained cases resolved in 120 days median, vs 1,200 for released
06
Continuances extended cases by average 300 days in FY 2023
07
FY 2023 bond hearings took 25 days median
08
Over 40% of FY 2023 cases waited over 2 years for merits hearing
09
FY 2021 processing slowed to 1,500 days average due to COVID
10
New York court median time: 2,000 days in FY 2023
11
FY 2023 efficiency: 700 cases completed per judge annually
12
Asylum merits hearings averaged 1,200 days wait in FY 2023
13
FY 2023 appeals to BIA took 250 days median
14
25% of cases in FY 2023 resolved under 1 year, mostly detained
15
Texas courts averaged 800 days in FY 2023
16
FY 2023 continuances per case: 2.1, adding 600 days
17
Unaccompanied minors cases: 900 days median in FY 2023
18
FY 2023 video hearings reduced time by 20% vs in-person
19
Backlog cases over 10 years: 10% in FY 2023
20
FY 2023 first appearance compliance: 75% within 30 days
21
California median: 1,500 days in FY 2023
22
FY 2023 productivity: 1.9 hearings per judge per day
23
Asylum affirmative referrals: 400 days to defensive in FY 2023
24
FY 2023 Florida: 1,000 days median
25
60% of FY 2023 completions under 3 years total time
Interpretation
Processing Times and Efficiency Interpretation
The glacial pace of immigration court, where even a speedy hearing is measured in years and patience is measured in lifetimes, shows a system buckling under the weight of its own backlog.
05 · Category
Respondent Demographics27 stats
01
In FY 2023, 65% of respondents were from the Northern Triangle countries
02
Mexicans comprised 20% of new filings in FY 2023 Immigration Court cases
03
FY 2023 saw 15% of cases involving unaccompanied minors under 18
04
42% of asylum seekers in FY 2023 were female
05
Venezuelans represented 12% of FY 2023 new cases, up from 2% in FY 2022
06
In FY 2022, 55% of respondents were detained at filing
07
FY 2023 average respondent age was 32 years
08
Guatemalans filed 18% of asylum cases in FY 2023
09
28% of FY 2023 cases involved families (with children)
10
Hondurans made up 22% of Northern Triangle cases in FY 2023
11
FY 2023 Chinese respondents: 8% of total
12
35% of backlog cases in FY 2023 were over 5 years old, involving older demographics
13
Salvadorans: 25% of FY 2023 asylum filers
14
FY 2023 Indians represented 6% of new non-asylum cases
15
62% of unaccompanied minors in FY 2023 were male aged 14-17
16
Nicaraguans surged to 10% of filings in FY 2023
17
FY 2023 Ecuadorians: 5% of cases
18
18% of respondents in FY 2023 had prior removal orders
19
Colombians: 4% of FY 2023 asylum seekers
20
FY 2023 Haitians: 7% of new cases amid border encounters
21
45% of detained respondents in FY 2023 were from Central America
22
Brazilians filed 3% of FY 2023 cases
23
FY 2023 average family size in cases: 2.5 members
24
Peruvians: 2% of backlog demographics in FY 2023
25
52% of FY 2023 respondents aged 18-35
26
FY 2023 Ukrainians: 1% despite global attention
27
22% of cases in FY 2023 involved repeat offenders criminally
Interpretation
Respondent Demographics Interpretation
While the faces change at the border, the story remains a complex mosaic of families and individuals fleeing turmoil, with the U.S. immigration court system straining to hold together under the weight of its own protracted backlog.
Reference
Cite This Report
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
APA
Leah Kessler. (2026, February 13). Immigration Court Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/immigration-court-statistics
MLA
Leah Kessler. "Immigration Court Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/immigration-court-statistics.
Chicago
Leah Kessler. 2026. "Immigration Court Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/immigration-court-statistics.
Sources & references
5 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level