According to a recent House Judiciary Committee report, nearly 1 million illegal immigrants are currently residing in the United States indefinitely due to various reasons such as dismissed cases, closed cases, or missing documentation from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The report highlights that under the Biden-Harris Administration, administrative maneuvers have allowed these individuals to avoid deportation, with the trend showing no signs of slowing down.
When illegal immigrants are encountered, they can be placed into removal proceedings to have their cases decided by an immigration judge. However, the backlog of cases faced by the approximately 700 immigration judges across the country has reached millions, exacerbating the situation.
The report reveals that over 700,000 illegal immigrants have had their immigration cases dismissed, terminated, or administratively closed during the current administration, enabling them to stay in the U.S. indefinitely without facing immigration consequences. Additionally, the Department of Justice's Executive Office for Immigration Review reported over 109,000 cases as not adjudicated in the fiscal year 2023.
Furthermore, the DHS failed to file necessary documentation for an additional 200,000 cases, allowing the majority of those individuals to also remain in the U.S. indefinitely. The report criticizes the Biden-Harris Administration for prioritizing case dismissals, closures, and terminations over adjudicating cases based on the merits of the claims for relief.
The report also mentions directives issued by DHS and the DOJ to promote the closure and dismissal of cases, focusing on higher-priority cases and reducing the backlog. This approach has been described as a form of 'quiet amnesty' that undermines U.S. immigration law and potentially incentivizes more illegal immigration.
While the Biden administration has highlighted a decrease in border encounters and an increase in removals or returns, the issue of immigration remains a significant topic ahead of the upcoming elections. Both former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris are engaging in discussions about who is best suited to address the border situation.
