In the first three months of fiscal year 2024, the completion rate for immigration cases increased by 50% compared to the previous year. Syracuse University’s Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse (TRAC) reported that nearly 200,000 cases were decided between October 2023 and December 2023.

During this period, about 64,000 deportation orders were issued, making up around 35% of the completed cases, according to TRAC. Honduras had the highest number of deportation orders. Less than 16% of immigrants facing removal orders, including unaccompanied children, had legal representation.

Harris County, Texas, which includes Houston, had the most completed cases, with 11,503 cases resolved, with approximately 87,000 cases are still pending. Los Angeles County had the second-highest number of completed cases, with just over 10,000, followed by Miami-Dade County, Florida, with under 5,500 cases completed.

Despite the increased rate of case completion during this period, there was also a faster growth in the backlog. Over the past year, the backlog increased by an estimated 1 million cases, reaching over 3 million cases by November 2023. In 2024, an additional 686,000 cases have been added to immigration courts.

We keep a close eye on immigration news and updates to U.S. immigration policy. If you have questions about your specific situation, our experienced attorneys are here to work with you, every step of the way.