Staff Reports
A recent survey found that there are more than 1.6 million immigrants residing in the United States with pending asylum requests, which is just more indication that President Joe Biden has failed to protect the border. It seems that Biden’s promises of a secure border were nothing but empty words and ineffective action. This revelation should come as no surprise to conservatives who have long been warning about the disastrous consequences of the Biden administration’s lax immigration policies.
Chicago Alderman Raymond Lopez is pressing President Biden to do more to fix a “broken immigration system" that has seen an influx of asylum seekers bused into the city largely on the backs of taxpayers. https://t.co/ctTw2cii7j
— FOX 32 News (@fox32news) August 16, 2023
According to the report from Breitbart, Andrew Arthur, a resident fellow at the Centre for Immigration Studies (CIS) who formerly served as an immigration judge, revealed these alarming findings. The Department of Justice (DOJ) data cited by Arthur indicates that there are nearly 800,000 defensive asylum claims awaiting adjudication by a mere 650 immigration judges. It’s clear that the number of asylum seekers far outweighs the resources available to properly handle these cases, leaving the system overwhelmed and in chaos.
To make matters worse, a backlog exists of 842,000 affirmative asylum applications which less than 850 USCIS asylum officials are now deciding. Affirmative asylum is sought by individuals who claim to have a "credible fear" of being persecuted in their own nations and wish to remain in the United States. This backlog represents a failure on the part of the Biden administration to manage and address the influx of migrants effectively.
The magnitude of this problem becomes even more apparent when compared to the situation in 2015 when the backlog was significantly smaller. When Arthur left the bench in 2015, there were around 210,000 pending asylum claims, with over 250 immigration judges working on these cases. Today, more than 250,000 asylum applications have been filed with immigration courts in FY 2022, and an additional 196,000 have been filed in the first half of FY 2023. This dramatic increase signals a dire situation that demands immediate action.
One of the key issues contributing to the backlog is the Biden administration’s policy of letting people enter the nation who are still filing for asylum. This has incentivized applicants to prolong the procedure, as the proceedings are dragged out, this will allow them to live and work in the United States, building up the conditions that could lead to other forms of relief. In 2015, detained asylum cases had a median completion time of 35 days, but today, non-detained cases can take over two years to be heard by an immigration judge. This stark contrast emphasizes the consequences of Biden’s approach to immigration.
Perhaps the most alarming aspect of the report is the revelation that those who are waiting asylum adjudication now surpasses the population of 11 entire states. This is a staggering statistic that underscores the magnitude of the crisis at hand. It is clear that Biden’s failure to secure the border and effectively address the asylum process has resulted in a system that is unable to handle the influx of migrants.
The implications of these findings are significant and have far-reaching consequences for national security, public safety, and the rule of law. It is imperative that the Biden administration takes immediate action to address this crisis and prioritize the security and wellbeing of the American people. The conservative voice stands firm in its demand for secure borders and a responsible, fair, and efficient immigration system.
