- Immigration courts in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware issued record-breaking deportation orders in June 2026.
- A historic sixty-eight percent of cases resulted in removal orders in absentia due to respondent absence.
- New legislative measures and judicial rulings have accelerated removal procedures across the United States region.
Philadelphia’s immigration court issued 2,105 deportation orders or voluntary-departure orders in June 2026, up 71% from 1,230 in May, according to data from the Executive Office for Immigration Review and the Department of Homeland Security.
New Jersey’s immigration courts issued 3,446 such orders in June, a 47% increase from 2,348 in May. The Philadelphia court handles cases from Pennsylvania and Delaware.
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The June figures marked the highest levels in the three-state region since at least 1997. More than 46,000 removal and voluntary-departure orders have been issued in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware since January 2025.
That three-state total exceeds the number issued during the previous Biden administration’s four-year term. The comparison concerns orders in the three states, not a nationwide total.
Nationally, immigration courts issued nearly 79,000 removal orders in June. Those orders represented 78.3% of all case closures, while judges granted relief to 1.9% of individuals.
The regional numbers came as courts resolved more cases through removal orders and voluntary departures. A record share also involved respondents who were not in court.
| Court area | May orders | June orders | May-to-June change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia, covering Pennsylvania and Delaware | 1,230 | 2,105 | 71% |
| New Jersey immigration courts | 2,348 | 3,446 | 47% |
Judges ordered 68% of June respondents removed in absentia
Immigration judges ordered 68% of individuals removed in absentia in June 2026. The share was a record high.
“In absentia” proceedings occur when respondents do not attend their hearings. Courts have also scheduled mass hearings involving 100 or more cases at a time.
Advocates say those large calendars can make it harder for people to obtain representation. The national relief rate remained under 2% in June, according to the figures cited in the research.
Lilah Thompson of the Defender Association of Philadelphia criticized the courts’ handling of cases on Aug. 13, 2026. She said immigration judges were expected to act independently but described a different reality.
"immigration judges are on the same side as ICE and DHS. they're supposed to be neutral arbiters, but that is not how it actually plays out."
The data combine several types of case outcomes. They include removal orders, voluntary departures and decisions issued when respondents were absent.
New legislation and a July asylum rule added routes into immigration court
The “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” identified as H.R. 1, adjusted immigration-related fees and streamlined removal procedures after its passage in 2025. Those changes formed part of a broader shift in the enforcement process.
USCIS issued another rule on July 28, 2026. The rule allows asylum officers to transfer certain cases directly to immigration court without an initial interview when an applicant filed more than one year after entry.
That procedure applies to late-filed asylum applications. It gives those cases a direct path to court proceedings.
The June record followed a national increase in case closures and removal orders. The regional figures also arrived as federal officials cited new enforcement tools and judicial developments.
DHS officials credit continuing enforcement and recent court rulings
DHS General Counsel James Percival pointed to three Supreme Court rulings in remarks on June 25, 2026. He described them as victories for what he called the “rule of law and common sense.”
Percival said the decisions barred people who had not entered the United States from applying for asylum, made it easier to remove lawful permanent residents who committed crimes, and supplied additional tools for border enforcement.
"These three rulings are all victories for the rule of law and common sense. This includes barring aliens from applying for asylum if they haven't set foot in the United States, making it easier to remove lawful permanent residents (LPRs) who commit a crime. Thanks to these decisions, we now have several more important tools to continue securing our borders."
Border Czar Tom Homan said on July 22, 2026, that ICE had not left the streets. He said enforcement continued after numbers fell for several months because the department was shut down during a congressional standoff.
"ICE isn't leaving the streets at all. Numbers were down for a few months because the department was shut down [due to a congressional standoff], but those efforts are continuing."
On Aug. 12, 2026, DHS emphasized criminal removals in an enforcement statement. The department referred to people it described as “criminal illegal aliens,” including murderers, rapists, drug traffickers and violent assailants.
"DHS deports more criminal illegal aliens, including murderers, rapists, drug traffickers, and violent assailants. [The administration is] making America safe again by highlighting the worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens deported."
The court totals cover removal and voluntary-departure orders broadly. They do not describe only people with criminal convictions.
The June figures also show how often respondents were absent when judges issued orders. That share reached 68%, the highest recorded level in the material cited here.
This article provides general information and is not legal advice. Consult a qualified immigration attorney about your specific case.
