A former federal immigration judge is speaking out about what he calls a struggling immigration court system, saying the process has become too slow, too expensive, and too difficult for many people trying to follow the law. Retired immigration judge Ted Doolittle says Connecticut’s only immigration court is under pressure from a growing backlog and shifting federal priorities.

Backlog and Delays

More than 41,000 immigration cases were pending in Connecticut as of May, according to the Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse at Syracuse University. Doolittle argues the federal government has focused more resources on immigration enforcement than on the court system needed to process cases.

Doolittle also says many migrants are misunderstood from the moment they cross the border. He says someone who enters without authorization but immediately tells border officials they are seeking asylum has entered the legal immigration process. However, the process can quickly become overwhelming, with steep costs for immigration attorneys and extensive paperwork.

Detention Policies

Doolittle says new detention policies have made it harder for migrants to prepare their cases. Many people crossing the border are detained and held without bail, leaving some to accept a U.S. offer for a deportation plane ticket back home. He believes the entire policy is to detain people, rather than provide a fair hearing.

The Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) declined to elaborate on Doolittle’s criticism, saying cases are being heard “fairly, expeditiously, and uniformly, in accordance with the law.” However, Doolittle’s concerns highlight the need for a more efficient and user-friendly immigration process.

Original reporting: NBC Connecticut (Hartford) — read the source article.