Immigration judges denying historic number of asylum claims
Immigration judges are denying nearly all immigrant claims for asylum, while simultaneously plowing through asylum cases at an expeditious rate.
TL;DR
- 94% of asylum claims decided in June were denied.
- This is a significant increase from a 50% denial rate in June 2024.
- Asylum case dispositions have increased to record levels due to new judges.
- Over 13,000 asylum cases were decided in April, May, March, and June 2026.
- The immigration courts have 3.38 million pending cases as of December 2025.
- Over 270 immigration judges departed in fiscal years 2025 and 2026.
- The executive branch can influence immigration policy through the appointment and performance evaluation of immigration judges.