President Donald Trump’s new head of the immigration court system is issuing a stark warning, citing figures that far exceed earlier federal estimates.
Daren Margolin, who now leads the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR), believes the number of individuals living in the United States illegally could range between 25 million and 30 million.
If accurate, that figure would represent one of the largest immigration enforcement challenges in modern American history.
Immigration Court Backlog Reaches Historic Levels
At the center of this debate is a staggering 3.6 million pending immigration cases in federal immigration courts.
Margolin has made it clear: even a major expansion of immigration judges may not be enough to resolve the current backlog.
The immigration court system, which operates under the Department of Justice, handles asylum claims, removal proceedings, deportation orders, and appeals. Delays in this system often mean cases can take years before reaching a final decision.
For taxpayers and communities concerned about border security, that backlog has become a growing national issue.
Trump Administration Focuses on Enforcement and Efficiency
Since President Trump returned to office, immigration enforcement has once again become a central pillar of federal policy.
According to publicly shared figures, the immigration court backlog declined by more than 341,000 cases between Trump’s inauguration and late January the following year.
A key factor: a sharp reduction in new filings tied to lower illegal border crossings during Trump’s first year back.
Administration officials argue that restoring enforcement credibility at the border directly reduces strain on the court system.
Streamlining Deportation Orders and Appeals
Most immigration court cases ultimately end with final removal orders.
By accelerating rulings and potentially limiting prolonged appeals, officials believe the system can move more efficiently while upholding due process standards.
Margolin has launched:
- A nationwide recruitment effort that drew approximately 1,700 applications for immigration judge positions
- The onboarding of roughly 50 temporary military Judge Advocate General (JAG) attorneys
- Expanded training programs for new hires
- Internal reviews of the appeals process to reduce unnecessary delays
Supporters say these measures are about restoring operational discipline to a court system overwhelmed in recent years.
Who Is Daren Margolin?
Margolin brings more than two decades of military legal experience to his new role.
Before leading EOIR, he served as an assistant chief immigration judge in California and previously worked as an assistant chief counsel for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
He also spent over 20 years in the U.S. Marine Corps, serving in multiple legal capacities including military judge, prosecutor, and staff judge advocate.
His background, supporters argue, positions him to approach immigration court reform with structure and accountability.
The Debate Over Illegal Immigration Numbers
Official estimates from the Department of Homeland Security and independent research organizations such as the Pew Research Center have placed the unauthorized immigrant population at significantly lower levels than Margolin’s projection.
However, critics of those estimates argue that unprecedented migration surges over the past several years may not yet be fully reflected in published data.
The true number remains a subject of intense policy debate — but few disagree that the immigration court backlog presents a major federal challenge.
Why This Matters to American Communities
For many voters — particularly older Americans concerned about public safety, border control, federal spending, and rule of law — immigration enforcement remains one of the most important national issues.
The next phase of policy may not take place at the physical border alone.
It may unfold inside America’s immigration courts.
And with millions of pending cases still unresolved, the outcome could shape U.S. immigration policy for years to come.