The backlog in deporting illegal immigrants rose 368 percent over the last 10 years, leaving 684,583 targeted for removal still in the United States, according to a new court filing.

The Immigration Reform Law Institute said most of the increase came during the Obama administration when law enforcement officials were urged to let illegals stay in the country.

The details were in a friend-of-the-court brief to Attorney General Jeff Sessions on the explosion in backlogged proceedings to remove aliens from the United States.

“The IRLI brief details an appalling record of public agency failure. In the years of 2008-2018, a time which was almost completely occupied by the Obama administration, the pending removal backlog grew by a shocking 368 percent, to 684,583 aliens whom the government is attempting to remove but who have not received a ‘final removal order,” said IRLI.

The group also hit the lengthened time of processing an illegal.

“Equally disturbing, the average number of days required to process a single alien’s case rose during the same period from 430 to 711, a 165 percent increase,” said the group which backs tighter immigration rules and enforcement of current laws.

“The backlog of removal proceedings is a glaring example of how our immigration system is riddled with loopholes and inadequacies that are routinely exploited by illegal aliens to remain in the country,” said Dale L. Wilcox, executive director and general counsel of IRLI. “Attorney General Sessions has shown determination to address these problems. Implementing the recommendations in our brief would be a great step forward.”

Among the recommendations they made in the court briefing:



The replacement of traditional motions for continuance with form-based requests that will require the alien to demonstrate prima facie eligibility for collateral relief.