A new report from the Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse (TRAC) at Syracuse University shows that the Dallas Immigration Court's pending docket has grown to 87,423 cases — a 23 percent increase from the same period last year and the highest total on record for the court.
What It Means for Applicants
Non-detained respondents — the majority of those in removal proceedings — can now expect an initial hearing date roughly four to five years from filing. Detained individuals are prioritized and generally see faster resolution, though that can mean faster deportation.
Legal Aid Organizations Stretched Thin
Texas RioGrande Legal Aid and the Tahirih Justice Center both reported that they are operating at capacity and are unable to accept new immigration cases in the Dallas area through the end of the fiscal year.