Resist Now Built for Action Take Action

Demand Independent Immigration Courts and Adequate Funding

Call Script and Letter Template

3.8 million immigration cases are pending with average waits of 900 days. Only 37% of respondents have legal representation.

Write Your Own Letter

There is no pre-written letter for this issue yet. Use the key facts and call script on this page to write your own.

Open Resistbot

Resistbot is a free nonprofit tool that finds your elected officials and delivers your letter as a fax, email, or physical letter.

Text RESIST to 50409 to start writing.

Call Your Representative

U.S. Capitol switchboard: (202) 224-3121

Here's what to say:

  1. I'm calling to ask my representative to support legislation creating an independent immigration court system.
  2. There are 3.8 million pending immigration cases right now. The average wait is 900 days. Asylum seekers wait 4.3 years.
  3. Immigration courts report to the attorney general, not the judicial branch. Only 37 percent of respondents have a lawyer.
  4. Due process requires independent courts and access to counsel. Please support immigration court reform and funding.

Calls get logged. Staff track volume by topic. Your call counts.

Write Your Own Letter

Prefer to write in your own words? Use this as a starting point.

Dear [Senator/Representative name],

I am writing as a constituent from [city, state] about demand independent immigration courts and adequate funding.

There are 3.8 million pending immigration cases right now. The average wait is 900 days. Asylum seekers wait 4.3 years.

Immigration courts report to the attorney general, not the judicial branch. Only 37 percent of respondents have a lawyer.

The facts support this: 3.8 million Pending immigration court cases as of early 2026. 900 days Average wait from filing to final disposition. 37% Immigration respondents who have legal representation.

I am asking you to take a public position on this issue and act accordingly. Thank you for your time.

Sincerely,
[Your name]
[Your address]

Find your representative to send this directly.

Key Facts to Mention

Use these in your letter, call, email, or social post.

  • 3.8 million Pending immigration court cases as of early 2026
  • 900 days Average wait from filing to final disposition
  • 37% Immigration respondents who have legal representation
Preview the full letter

The U.S. immigration court system has 3.8 million pending cases. The average wait from filing to final disposition stretches to nearly 900 days. For asylum seekers, the National Immigration Forum estimates wait times of 4.3 years. People sit in limbo unable to work legally, separated from families, and at constant risk of detention.

Immigration courts sit inside the Department of Justice, not the judicial branch. The attorney general can set case priorities, reassign judges, and rewrite precedent. Only 37 percent of respondents have legal representation. Judges handle 40 or more cases per day in some courts. The administration's "rocket dockets" push faster processing, but faster without adequate representation produces worse outcomes, not better justice.

The backlog surged 12 percent in the past year. EOIR claims credit for reducing it from 4.18 million, but completions include in absentia removal orders where respondents never received notice. Tell Congress to create an independent immigration court system and fund legal representation for respondents.

This action is part of our Immigration coverage.