Immigration courts across the country have seen caseloads double under President Trump’s enforcement push, according to lawyers on the ground. The surge strains judges and staff, leading to filing errors and longer wait times for defendants.

At the Annandale Immigration Court in Virginia, attorneys and clients stood in a crowded hallway, illustrating the daily chaos that accompanies the new backlog. Lawyers warn that the swell of cases erodes procedural accuracy and fairness.

The backlog signals a broader shift in U.S. immigration policy toward aggressive deportations. Courts, already limited in resources, face mounting pressure to process more hearings while maintaining compliance with legal standards.

For businesses hiring foreign talent, the slowdown in court decisions may delay work visas and affect talent pipelines, tightening the talent market and raising compliance costs for employers.