DHS Cracks Down On Immigration Attorneys Who File ‘Meritless’ Asylum Claims
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is cracking down on immigration attorneys who file what the agency calls “meritless” and fraudulent asylum claims, according to a letter obtained exclusively by the Daily Caller.
A letter from DHS General Counsel James Percival to the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) argues that the immigration court system is facing a massive backlog, with nearly 3.5 million cases and 2.3 million asylum claims pending as of July 2026.
DHS attributes much of the backlog to what it calls “meritless asylum claims,” arguing that such claims can delay deportation and allow migrants to remain in the U.S. while their cases are pending.
The letter says claims involving generalized gang violence, domestic violence, economic hardship, and other country conditions often fail to meet the legal standard for asylum.
The department further argues that “meritless asylum applications are filed to obtain work permits, to delay deportation, and to force a release from custody,” while warning that claims without a reasonable legal or factual basis “will be dealt with accordingly.” (Read more from “DHS Cracks Down On Immigration Attorneys Who File ‘Meritless’ Asylum Claims” HERE)
