US immigration backlog under Trump fuels ICE arrests

A growing backlog at U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has left roughly 7.5 million applicants for citizenship, green cards and work permits waiting for years, creating a large pool of people vulnerable to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) actions. Advocates say the slowdown is intentional, describing it as “a form of entrapment,” and point to arrests of individuals with pending applications in cities such as Philadelphia and Denver, as well as refugees awaiting permanent‑resident status.

In Utah, legal immigrants under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program report extended processing times—often five months or more—and denied renewals that have forced some to lose employment. The situation has drawn criticism of the Trump administration’s immigration policies, with opponents accusing the government of using case delays to increase deportations.