If a Cow Lays Down With His Feet Uphill, The Cow has a Bitch of a Time Getting Up

Immigration hearings have long term delays built into the process.  Immigration judges have a lot of cases.  So many that I'm sure "justice" can get twisted into pretzels.  Some easy cases, where people should be sent home, get delayed and people are allowed to hang around much longer than you would ever think, and others who may have legal reasons to stay in the country also have their cases delayed.  Detention isn't cheap and you wonder why there are so many folks in this country without legal status?

If this was the DMV the all ready long list of folks driving without licenses would be even longer.  In fact this is what happens when states restrict drivers licenses to citizens, permanent residents, and those with a valid immigration status. Folks still drive to jobs, but they don't carry insurance and live in fear of being stopped.  The Miami Herald editorial board favors a state law which would allow the state to issue licenses to folks waiting for their cases to be heard.  There are practical public safety issues involved.  Not issuing licenses may be politically popular but it does little to solve immigration issues.

Immigration judges are part of the Department of Justice, they are not part of the Judiciary Branch and you can guess how well the process for getting more funds for judges to hear the cases that increased enforcement on the borders generates.

And so it goes.