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About 450,000 immigration cases in the U.S. are currently backlogged and await a court hearing, according to U.S. Congressman Henry Cuellar.

In many cases, the children and adults who await their hearings are either held in detention centers, such as the South Texas Family Residential Center in Dilley, or are released on bond.

Cuellar said many of them risk not showing up to their court hearing after it has been appointed to them.

Cuellar recently included language in the Commerce-Justice-Science appropriations bill to include funding for 55 new immigration judges and support staff to reduce immigration backlogs.

“The faster we can have hearings will be better for everyone,” Cuellar said.

Chairman of the Subcommittee on Commerce-Justice-Science John Culberson touted the bill with Cuellar’s propositions, according to a press release from the congressman’s office.

There are about 260 immigration judges serving the U.S. justice system and 58 courts.

According to the U.S. Department of Justice website, there are 28 immigration judges listed as serving in Texas courts. Dallas and San Antonio are listed as having five immigration judges each.

El Paso, Harlingen, Houston, Pearsall and Port Isabel are other Texas cities with immigration judges.

There is no immigration judge in Laredo.

Cuellar said Congress has approved to increase the number of Border Patrol service agents in the past.

With the greater number of employees, more apprehensions are made, and the justice system has to follow suit, Cuellar said.

“I think we will be able to vote on this and get it done before the end of the year,” Cuellar said.

Cuellar also said, if approved, he hoped to appoint a few of the 55 judges to South Texas and appoint at least one judge to serve in Laredo.

http://www.lmtonline.com/news/local/article_3b841856-fd2a-11e4-ba42-174d96e757fb.html