Immigration court backlog falls as mega hearings drive more no-shows
The U.S. immigration-court backlog is shrinking as judges process cases at a faster pace. But the shift is also bringing larger hearing blocks, shorter preparation periods and more removal orders issued when people do not appear.
The change does not mean every case is receiving more time or attention. For people with pending cases, a missed hearing can lead to an in-absentia removal order, including when an asylum application is pending.
What changed in immigration court scheduling
Associated Press reporting found a sharp increase in so-called “mega” master-calendar hearings. Courts generally use the term for a docket with more than 50 cases assigned to one judge, although some sessions involve dozens or hundreds of matters.
AP reported that more than 1,300 mega hearings were held in June 2026, nearly three times the number in June 2025, based on data analyzed by Mobile Pathways, a nonprofit that tracks immigration-court activity.
AP also reported that the preparation period for many complex immigration proceedings had fallen from about six months to sometimes just over a month. A shorter lead time can leave people less time to find a lawyer, gather evidence, arrange transportation, understand filing requirements or prepare an asylum claim.
What the official numbers show
Data generated by the Executive Office for Immigration Review on July 24, 2026, show 3,469,569 pending cases through the third quarter of fiscal 2026. EOIR reported 660,343 total completions during that period.
EOIR also reported 281,867 in-absentia removal orders through the third quarter of fiscal 2026, compared with 311,130 during all of fiscal 2025. An in-absentia order is issued when a respondent does not appear for a scheduled hearing. It is a court order, not a count of deportations physically carried out.
EOIR’s asylum-specific series shows 90,288 in-absentia removal orders involving asylum applicants through the third quarter of fiscal 2026, compared with 50,254 during all of fiscal 2025. EOIR says that series covers removal, deportation and exclusion cases with an actual asylum application. It does not include every person who indicated fear of returning but did not file an asylum application.
Why missed hearings matter
EOIR guidance says respondents are expected to attend scheduled hearings. If a person does not appear, the court may hold the hearing in absentia and issue a removal order, subject to the rules governing notice and any later effort to reopen the case.
AP reported that Mobile Pathways estimated the national missed-hearing rate rose from about 20% in January 2025 to 40% in June 2026 as notice periods shortened. Mobile Pathways also estimated that monthly deportation orders rose from nearly 33,000 in January 2025 to about 79,000 in June 2026.
Those figures are Mobile Pathways estimates reported by AP, not EOIR’s official workload statistics. They do not establish that every missed appearance resulted from inadequate notice. AP described logistical barriers in several courts, including transportation problems, confusion inside courthouses and difficulty obtaining legal help.
AP reported that immigration officials said judges were adjusting schedules to resolve cases more quickly while handling them fairly and lawfully. Supporters of faster scheduling argue that delays keep valid cases from reaching decisions. Advocates and some former judges have warned that crowded dockets and compressed preparation periods may make meaningful representation and careful review more difficult. Those concerns are assessments and allegations, not a final judicial finding that the nationwide process is unlawful.
What an in-absentia order can mean
When a person misses a hearing and a removal order is issued, an asylum claim is almost always treated as abandoned, according to AP’s reporting. That does not mean every asylum claim is legally decided on its merits at that moment; it means the missed appearance can end the case procedurally unless the person can meet the requirements for reopening or other relief.
The consequences can be severe. EOIR’s attendance guidance warns that failing to appear may result in an in-absentia hearing and removal order. The specific outcome can depend on the notice, the case history and whether the respondent later seeks to reopen the proceedings.
What people with pending cases should do
People with immigration-court cases should not assume a hearing was postponed or canceled. They should:
- Read every court notice carefully and keep a record of the hearing date, time and location.
- Confirm current hearing information through official EOIR channels and follow the instructions on the notice.
- Keep the court informed of address changes as required.
- Seek qualified immigration legal help as early as possible, especially when a hearing is scheduled on short notice.
- Plan transportation and allow extra time for security, check-in and crowded courthouse conditions.
EOIR’s master-calendar and attendance guidance explains the purpose of these hearings and the consequences of failing to appear. This article is general information, not legal advice.
What to watch next
The next signals will be whether mega-hearing scheduling continues, whether missed appearances and in-absentia orders keep rising, and whether courts, lawmakers or litigants seek new oversight, guidance or judicial review.
Sources
- Associated Press: Breakneck pace in immigration courts is driving up deportation orders
- EOIR: Attendance guidance
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