Concord Immigration Court Faces Backlog Crisis with Mass Hearings
Concord Immigration Court is now holding mass hearings for over 100 cases at a time. This change comes as the court works to clear a large backlog of immigration cases. The court’s caseload significantly increased after the San Francisco immigration court closed and transferred its cases to Concord. This situation is causing increased fear of deportation among immigrants in Northern California.
The Department of Justice and the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) are using these large hearings, sometimes called Mega Master Calendar Hearings, to speed up the process. Judges are calling many people into court at once to move cases toward decisions, final hearings, or removal orders. Hearings that were scheduled for 2027, 2028, or 2029 are now being moved up to 2026. This acceleration raises concerns about people missing short-notice hearing dates and receiving automatic removal orders.
Backlog Reduction Efforts
EOIR Director Daren K. Margolin stated that the goal is to reduce the immigration court backlog. He mentioned that new immigration judges are being sworn in to help decide cases based on the law. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche also commented on the administration’s commitment to restoring the rule of law in the immigration system by clearing the backlog and increasing enforcement.
Increased Deportation Enforcement
The Department of Homeland Security Secretary, Markwayne Mullin, has indicated a continued focus on immigration enforcement. This includes a push for faster court processing and more removals. There are also reports of ICE arresting individuals inside and around the Concord Immigration Court building. This has created an atmosphere of fear, with immigrants worried that attending a required hearing might lead to detention.
Caseload Increase and Court Closures
Concord’s role expanded significantly after the San Francisco Immigration Court closed. This closure transferred about 120,000 cases to Concord, which already had a docket of 60,000 cases. The court is now managing nearly 180,000 cases. This consolidation has placed a heavier burden on the Concord court and its staff.
Judicial Turnover and New Hires
The immigration court system has seen a rapid change in judges. Over the past 15 months, around 125 immigration judges nationwide have been removed or have left their positions. Despite this turnover, EOIR has been hiring new judges. In May 2026, the agency swore in 77 new immigration judges and 5 temporary military lawyers, the largest group in its history. This hiring push is happening alongside the move towards mass hearings and faster scheduling.
Declining Asylum Grant Rates
Asylum grant rates have also decreased. In 2026, rates have fallen to about 10%, a significant drop from the previous average of 42%. This tightening of asylum outcomes adds another layer of difficulty for individuals seeking protection in the United States.
Impact on Unrepresented Immigrants
The mass hearing format presents particular challenges for immigrants who do not have legal representation. These “pro se” respondents face compressed timelines. Judges and court staff provide instructions quickly to manage the large groups, but this leaves less time for individuals to understand the charges against them, request legal counsel, or prepare necessary documents before their next hearing. Immigration lawyers have expressed concerns about due process, arguing that this format limits immigrants’ ability to understand their rights and find legal help.
Travel and Logistical Burdens
The shift of cases from San Francisco to Concord also creates practical difficulties. Immigrants who previously traveled to San Francisco now face longer journeys to Concord, often relying on public transportation. These longer commutes, combined with work schedules, childcare needs, and language barriers, make it harder for individuals to attend their hearings on time. A short hearing can require hours of travel, and any delay can have serious consequences when cases have been moved up to 2026.
Detention Capacity Expansion
In parallel with court changes, detention capacity has grown. ICE is currently detaining over 70,000 individuals and plans to increase this to 100,000 to support the administration’s deportation goals. This expansion of detention facilities is part of a broader enforcement strategy.
Additional Policy Changes
The Department of Homeland Security is also developing a rule that could allow USCIS to reject some asylum applications based on the written record if they appear to miss the one-year filing deadline. This could send people directly to immigration court without a traditional interview, adding more cases to an already strained system.
These measures are presented as a unified enforcement structure: faster screening, tighter scheduling, increased detention, and a court system designed to process more people more quickly. In Concord, this structure is evident in the mass hearings that bring large numbers of immigrants together in a single courtroom. Individuals whose cases were once years away now face hearing dates in 2026, crowded courtrooms, and the risk of removal orders for missed appearances.
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