Our Immigration system is badly broken and needs to be fixed now. You only need to watch the news to see what's going on in the nation. The influx of migrants at the border has caused multifaceted negative effects on the U.S., including for asylum seekers. America should have a robust immigration policy. The current system needs to be fixed!

As of 2025, there are approximately 3.6 million immigration cases in backlog. Some come with false asylum claims as the only way to possibly immigrate. It is the single, most rational choice available… risk crossing the border for refuge. The result is mass release into the interior with backlogs and court dates years away with uncertainty of success. The years of waiting have caused all asylum seekers to live in fear.

Para-Lawyer Judges should be trained and appointed to assist in adjudication of cases, as Immigration Asylum Judges.

1. Appoint Para-Lawyers to address low-priority cases, to use their discretion to administratively close or terminate asylum cases (and to address cases elsewhere), where appropriate.
2. Decentralize Hearings: Surge these judges into local communities and utilize available space in federal buildings nationwide.
3. Expedite Processing: This surge in personnel will allow for a dramatic increase in processed cases, clearing the backlog and providing clarity to those in limbo.

We need to train-up Para-Lawyer Judges. They would take the 15 hour Certification, available in law school, which includes class mockup peer experience and internships in court experience. Then, train beyond that in the Immigration Court.

As of 2025, there has been a pause on processing asylum applications, although interviews and filings continue. It’s been discussed that the border Immigration Officers, who interview the asylum seekers applicants, should have the discretion to grant asylum in obviously strong cases. This has not been done. This is an example of a place Para-Lawyer Judge should adjudicate.

Today, Temporary Judges, without related Immigration law experience, have been deployed to assist with the Immigration case backlog. (See Official Reports on this issue). Training-up a Para-Lawyer Judge is a better long-term solution, and should be non-partisan, being a stand alone change, without needing to be debated as a part of a new Immigration policy.

Asylum cases will continue to grow, as long as there is disruption in the world. Unfortunately, it has grown because Immigration Reform hasn’t happened. Immigration Reform would cause a better way to immigrate legally and therefore, decrease the asylum claims backlog for the true refugees. Whether the term Para-Lawyer Judges is correct or not, we need a decrease in the massive backlog of asylum cases to become manageable, processed accurately and timely today and long-term.

The new H. R. 1, One Big Beautiful Bill passed by Congress, has placed a cap of a maximum of 800 Immigration Asylum Judges, beginning November 1, 2028. This is unacceptable! The backlog problem is too big to restrict.

All refugees should have their day in court, in a timely manner. Only by Immigration Asylum Reform will the process change. It must begin with Para-Lawyer Immigration Judge appointments and a repeal of the H.R. 1 cap!