Fact Check: "The U.S. has a backlog of asylum claims due to increased immigration."
What We Know
The claim that the U.S. has a backlog of asylum claims is supported by substantial data. As of May 2025, there were approximately 3,546,863 active cases pending before the Immigration Court, with 2,172,653 immigrants awaiting decisions on their formal asylum applications (TRAC Immigration). This backlog has been attributed to a surge in immigration, particularly in recent years. The Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) has reported a significant increase in new asylum applications, contributing to the growing backlog (Executive Office for Immigration Review).
Analysis
The evidence indicates a clear correlation between increased immigration and the backlog of asylum claims. The data from TRAC shows that the number of new court cases recorded in FY 2025 was 401,661, while the courts completed 605,311 cases during the same period, suggesting a net increase in pending cases (TRAC Immigration).
Moreover, the EOIR's statistics reveal that the backlog has been exacerbated by operational disruptions during the COVID-19 pandemic, which affected case processing times and led to an accumulation of pending cases (Executive Office for Immigration Review).
While some sources may emphasize the role of policy changes in increasing denial rates and processing times, the overall trend of rising asylum claims is evident. For instance, in March 2025, U.S. Immigration Courts processed a record 10,933 asylum cases but maintained a 76% denial rate, highlighting the challenges faced by applicants in a congested system (VisaVerge).
The reliability of the sources used in this analysis is high, as they come from reputable organizations such as the EOIR and TRAC, which specialize in immigration data. These sources provide comprehensive statistics and insights into the immigration court system, making them credible for understanding the current state of asylum claims in the U.S.
Conclusion
Verdict: True
The claim that the U.S. has a backlog of asylum claims due to increased immigration is accurate. The data clearly shows a significant number of pending asylum cases, which has been compounded by an influx of new applications and operational challenges. The statistics from trusted sources substantiate the assertion that the backlog is a pressing issue in the U.S. immigration system.
