Immigration Prosecutions Mean Heavy Case Load for Courts

"The five federal trial courts along the nation's southwest border, for years coping with bulging criminal dockets, are feeling the impact of newly stepped-up enforcement of immigration laws. 'The surge in new immigration cases brought by the Department of Justice . . . is increasing the caseload of the federal judges along the border—especially the magistrate judges—and the need for additional court staff, official court interpreters, defense lawyers, and courtroom space,' states a new Administrative Office report to Congress," the U.S. Courts newsletter The Third Branch writes. "The report added: 'The Judiciary is responding broadly and promptly to the needs of the courts flowing from Operation Streamline II and other recent prosecution initiatives. Short-term caseload surges can and are being addressed effectively by redeploying existing judges and court staff on a temporary basis, borrowing judges from other districts, or recalling retired magistrate judges. But as stepped-up law enforcement and caseload increases continue, more permanent measures need to be taken.'"

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