Immigration judges across the United States have received instructions to restrict the use of continuances—legal delays that allow immigrants additional time to secure legal representation, complete applications, or await approval of visa and green card petitions, according to training materials reviewed by media outlets.
The mandatory training session, attended by hundreds of judges in recent days, was led by Keith Hunsucker of the board of immigration appeals and focused on what officials characterized as reducing inefficiencies and addressing a backlog of approximately 3.2 million pending immigration court cases. The presentation suggested that judges should deny requests for continuances lasting more than 10 days in many circumstances, even when additional time would allow applicants to receive legal protections such as approved visas or green cards that are merely awaiting processing. According to training materials, judges were encouraged to view continuance requests as dilatory tactics rather than necessary accommodations.
The guidance raises concerns among observers that immigrants with legitimate pending applications could face deportation before their documents arrive, particularly given processing delays at the Department of Homeland Security that are beyond applicants’ control. The training explicitly targeted certain vulnerable populations, including abused and abandoned youth eligible for special immigrant juvenile status and survivors of violent crime seeking U nonimmigrant visas. Critics note that representation substantially affects outcomes—data shows approximately 25 percent of represented immigrants were ordered removed from 2019 to 2024, compared with over 60 percent of unrepresented individuals.
Justice Department officials stated that the immigration courts are “hearing cases fairly, expeditiously, and uniformly, in accordance with the law,” and that the executive office for immigration review prioritizes timely case completion. The agency argued that unnecessary delays harm both immigrants with meritorious claims and the public interest in removing those with nonmeritorious claims. The development represents a formalization of existing trends toward accelerated adjudications and shortened continuances within the immigration court system.
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