The Denver Post on September 7, 2022, reported that there are approximately one million people from around the world who have applied for asylum in the U.S.
Their wait to get a hearing in an Immigrant Court is approximately seven years, during which time they are unable to work legally, and during which no federal support is designated to help them. (They can, however apply for permission to work 150 days after they file for asylum.)
The story in the Post states that the asylees are coming from 150 countries, “fleeing crime and economic despair.” It’s a national disgrace that our immigration courts are so overwhelmed that they cannot rule on desperate people’s requests for asylum and safety in the U.S. in a reasonable length of time.