The North American Punjabi Association (NAPA) Executive Director Satnam Singh Chahal, today expressed deep concern over the widespread misconceptions linking immigrants with criminal activity in the United States. Newly released Immigration Court data shows that in the first three months of Fiscal Year 2026, only 1.64% of new cases involved any allegations of criminal activity beyond possible illegal entry. This fact challenges long-standing political narratives that portray immigrants as a threat to public safety.
Chahal Said that as of December 2025, the U.S. Immigration Court system is overwhelmed with 3.38 million active pending cases, making it one of the largest backlogs in the nation’s judicial history. Although immigration judges completed 193,858 cases in the first quarter—exceeding the 130,642 cases filed—the overall backlog remains staggering and continues to strain the system.
A significant portion of this backlog consists of 2.34 million asylum cases, representing individuals and families fleeing persecution, violence, or political instability. These cases require detailed review, and delays can leave vulnerable individuals waiting years for a decision. NAPA emphasises that asylum seekers make up a majority of the workload and deserve timely, humane, and fair evaluations.
The data also shows considerable regional variations in case concentration. Courts in major immigrant communities are facing extreme pressures, with Miami-Dade County, Florida, holding 147,232 pending cases, Cook County, Illinois at 112,299, and Queens County, New York at 105,635. These high numbers reflect the heavy burden placed on local court systems and legal service providers.
In December 2025 alone, immigration judges completed 57,531 cases, issuing 38,215 removal orders and 7,359 voluntary departure orders, resulting in a combined 79.2% deportation rate. This high removal percentage is particularly concerning because only 26.7% of immigrants had legal representation when their removal orders were issued. NAPA stresses that the lack of attorneys undermines due process and drastically increases the risk of unfair outcomes.
The nationality breakdown of deportees highlights broader geopolitical realities. Between October and December 2025, the courts issued deportation orders for 33,830 Mexican nationals, 19,169 Guatemalan nationals, 18,746 Honduran nationals, 14,679 Venezuelan nationals, and 9,328 Colombian nationals. These numbers reflect ongoing instability and humanitarian crises in multiple regions across the Americas.
Additionally, immigration judges conducted 15,540 bond hearings in the same period but granted bond in only 4,062 cases, leaving many individuals detained for extended periods while their cases move slowly through the system. This raises further concerns about fairness, detention conditions, and the psychological impact on immigrant families.
Executive Director Satnam Singh Chahal stated that these findings must serve as a wake-up call. “These numbers clearly prove that immigrants are overwhelmingly law-abiding individuals seeking safety, stability, and opportunity. The narrative that immigrants are criminals is not supported by facts. NAPA urges policymakers, media outlets, and the public to rely on real data—not fear-driven rhetoric.” He called for urgent reforms, including improved access to legal representation, increased funding to reduce court backlogs, and more humane handling of asylum cases.