Here’s what we know.
A new report from the House Judiciary Committee has shown that nearly 1 million illegal immigrants are allowed to remain in the United States indefinitely, thanks to the actions of the Biden-Harris Administration. This alarming situation stems from administrative practices within the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which have effectively granted a form of quiet amnesty to these individuals.
According to the report, over 700,000 immigration cases have been dismissed or closed under the current administration. This means that these individuals can stay in the U.S. without facing deportation, as their cases are neither adjudicated nor resolved. The backlog of immigration cases has reached staggering proportions, with approximately 700 judges struggling to manage millions of pending cases. This administrative chaos has resulted in significant delays and a lack of accountability within our immigration system.
Furthermore, the report highlights that the DOJ’s Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) has left over 109,000 cases unresolved in fiscal year 2023 alone. Compounding this issue, DHS has failed to file necessary documentation for another 200,000 cases, allowing those individuals to remain in the country indefinitely as well.
This failure to enforce immigration laws not only undermines the rule of law but also sends a dangerous message to potential illegal immigrants: that crossing the border may result in de facto residency rather than deportation. The Biden administration’s approach—characterized by case dismissals and administrative closures—has created a disincentive for legal immigration and incentivized further illegal crossings.
The report indicates that both DHS and DOJ have intentionally prioritized this strategy, with memos encouraging the closure of nonpriority cases to alleviate the overwhelming backlog. This shift effectively allows individuals who would otherwise lack a legal basis to remain in the U.S. to do so indefinitely, further straining our resources and complicating the lives of those caught in limbo.
As the nation approaches the upcoming elections, immigration remains a pressing issue. It’s crucial that we hold the administration accountable for its failure to uphold immigration laws. Republicans must advocate for a return to a system that prioritizes the rule of law and secures our borders, ensuring that those who enter our country do so legally and with respect for our processes. The time for decisive action is now, as the consequences of inaction affect both our national security and the integrity of our immigration system.