Senate Republicans have proposed a new set of US border security measures that must be met before sending additional Aid to Ukraine. The proposal, released by Republican senators Lindsey Graham and Jim Lenford, includes resuming construction on the border wall, reducing humanitarian parole for migrants, and imposing stricter qualifications for asylum.
However, it is doubtful that the proposal will gain enough support from Democrats. Immigration remains a highly debated issue, especially with the upcoming election. In September, there were approximately 291,000 migrant apprehensions, marking the highest number so far in 2023. Many of these individuals will enter a heavily burdened Immigration Court system in an attempt to avoid deportation.
Currently, over 2 million people await processing of their cases, with about half seeking asylum specifically. For asylum seekers, the average wait time to present their case is 1,444 days, roughly four years. Immigration courts handle various matters, including granting asylum, appealing denials from immigration services, and requesting to stay in the US for different reasons. The process typically begins with the issuance of a notice to appear by the federal government, followed by a master calendar hearing, where the judge schedules the next court date.
Eventually, asylum seekers will have the opportunity to present their case for staying in the country, leading to a decision. The lengthy processing time is primarily due to understaffed immigration courts, with only approximately 650 judges responsible for these cases. Each judge completes fewer than 500 cases per year, according to a study by the Migration Policy Institute. Although the Biden Administration has hired around 200 judges, the backlog remains significant.
Insufficient support staff and bureaucratic inefficiencies in case filing procedures also contribute to the delays. During the campaign trail, candidates often connect immigration and crime, but it is important to examine the validity of this correlation. CBS News correspondent Omar Vranka will investigate this connection further in our 12:00 pm segment..
