Fact Check: "The backlog of asylum claims in the U.S. is significant."
What We Know
The backlog of asylum claims in the United States has reached a substantial level. As of February 2025, there were approximately 3.7 million total cases pending in immigration courts, with 1.96 million of those being asylum applications (source-5). This represents a significant increase in asylum claims, which have risen by nearly 150,000 cases or 8.0% in just two months (source-5). The backlog is particularly pronounced in major urban centers, with New York City alone accounting for over 200,000 asylum cases (source-5).
The data from the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) indicates that the backlog has been exacerbated by various factors, including operational disruptions due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which affected statistics for fiscal years 2020 and 2021 (source-3). The current figures reflect ongoing challenges in processing these claims, as asylum cases typically require more time and resources to adjudicate compared to other immigration matters (source-5).
Analysis
The claim that the backlog of asylum claims in the U.S. is significant is supported by multiple credible sources. The EOIR's statistics, which are regularly updated and publicly available, provide a clear picture of the current situation. The 3.7 million pending cases, with nearly 2 million asylum claims, highlight the scale of the issue (source-5).
Moreover, the Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse (TRAC), which analyzes immigration court data, corroborates these findings, noting that the asylum backlog is continuing to climb and is a significant contributor to the overall immigration court backlog (source-5). The TRAC's analysis is based on case-by-case records obtained through the Freedom of Information Act, lending further credibility to their findings.
While some may argue that the backlog is a result of administrative inefficiencies or policy changes, the data suggests that the sheer volume of claims and the complexity of asylum cases are primary drivers of the backlog. Additionally, the fact that only a small percentage of asylum applicants are currently detained (0.33%) indicates that the backlog is largely composed of individuals awaiting hearings rather than those in immediate detention (source-5).
Conclusion
Verdict: True. The evidence clearly supports the claim that the backlog of asylum claims in the U.S. is significant. With nearly 2 million pending asylum applications contributing to a total backlog of 3.7 million cases, the scale of the issue is substantial and continues to grow, reflecting ongoing challenges within the immigration system.
