Government Shutdown Might Cancel Immigration Hearings
The New Year started off with a lot of stress that has everything to do with the government that occurred on the 22nd of December in 2018 and is rolling over into 2019 now. This is a particularly notable shutdown because it has turned into the country’s longest shutdown in over 20 years. What is very upsetting to people in the United States right now is that this government shutdown might cancel immigration hearings by the thousands. Here is what you need to know.
Government Shutdown Might Cancel Immigration Hearings | How This Affects You
If you are trying to have your case heard by the Immigration Court, you could be waiting a very long time. Since the start of this shutdown, about 43,000 hearings have been canceled already and those people all have to have their hearings rescheduled. We don’t know when anyone is going to be able to reschedule a hearing due to the shutdown. It is stated that migrants could be waiting up to 4 years to have their hearing rescheduled. All of this backlogging has created boat loads of stress for the migrants wishing to have their cases heard and for the Court who is already swamped with cases.
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Government Shutdown Might Cancel Immigration Hearings | What If This Shutdown Continues?
It is likely that the shutdown indeed will continue and that carries with it consequences. Syracuse University states that if the shutdown doesn’t end by February, more than 100,000 people are going to have their hearing canceled and be forced to reschedule. Right now, the Immigration Court already has approximately 800,000 cases on backlog. This government shutdown will only add to the mounting pile.
Government Shutdown Might Cancel Immigration Hearings | President Trump’s Influence
Since President Trump took office in 2017, the Immigration Court backlogs has increased by 49% and will continue to do so exponentially if this shutdown goes on. President Trump’s administration has implemented immigration policies that have taken cases that used to be inactive and has thrown them into the shuffle for the court, making it even harder for these active hearings to take place. This has been frustrating for many people who work to help migrants. With these decisions to implement these policies, as well as the decision to continue this government shutdown, the backlogged cases about possibly climb to over one million.
If you have been affection by this government shutdown and want to speak to an experienced New Jersey immigration attorney, please call our lawyer today for a consultation.