Immigration Case Types
9,665,241 total cases across 15 case types. Removal cases dominate at 8,275,052 (85.6%).
Case Type Distribution
| # | Case Type | Code | Count | % of Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Removal | RMV | 8,275,052 | 85.62% |
| 2 | Deportation | DEP | 901,917 | 9.33% |
| 3 | Exclusion | EXC | 175,454 | 1.82% |
| 4 | Credible Fear Review | CFR | 164,139 | 1.70% |
| 5 | DD Appeal | DDC | 69,568 | 0.72% |
| 6 | Withholding Only | WHO | 31,996 | 0.33% |
| 7 | Reasonable Fear Case | RFR | 27,709 | 0.29% |
| 8 | Asylum Only Case | AOC | 15,797 | 0.16% |
| 9 | Rescission | REC | 2,066 | 0.02% |
| 10 | Claimed Status Review | CSR | 1,195 | 0.01% |
| 11 | NACARA Adjustment | NAC | 307 | 0.00% |
| 12 | Continued Detention Review | CDR | 34 | 0.00% |
| 13 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0.00% |
| 14 | AOL | AOL | 2 | 0.00% |
| 15 | Departure Control | DCC | 1 | 0.00% |
Understanding Case Types
When the government wants to remove someone from the U.S., they file a "Notice to Appear" (NTA) that initiates proceedings. The type of proceeding depends on when and how the person was encountered:
- Removal (8,275,052): The standard proceeding since 1996. Covers anyone the government seeks to deport — from border crossers to visa overstays to longtime residents with criminal convictions.
- Deportation (901,917): The older proceeding type (pre-1996 IIRIRA). Still appears in data for cases initiated before the law changed.
- Exclusion (175,454): For people stopped at ports of entry before 1996. Replaced by "inadmissibility" under current law.
- Credible Fear Review (164,139): Screening for asylum seekers apprehended at the border. A judge reviews whether there's a "significant possibility" the person could establish asylum eligibility.
- Withholding Only (31,996): For people ineligible for asylum (e.g., filed too late) but who may still face persecution. Higher burden of proof than asylum.
- Asylum Only (15,797): Affirmative asylum applications referred from USCIS after an initial denial. These go through the full court process.
The 1996 Shift
The Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act (IIRIRA) of 1996 fundamentally restructured immigration enforcement. "Deportation" and "exclusion" were merged into a single "removal" process. This is why 85.6% of cases are classified as "Removal" — it's the only category used for cases filed after 1996.
Why This Data Matters
The charges filed against someone in immigration court determine what relief they can seek and how their case will proceed. Most people assume immigration cases are about "illegal entry," but the data shows a far more complex picture — with charges ranging from visa overstays to failure to maintain status to criminal-based grounds of removability.
Understanding charge patterns matters because different charges carry different consequences. Some charges bar asylum eligibility entirely. Others allow for cancellation of removal if the person has been in the U.S. long enough. The charge on a Notice to Appear (NTA) isn't just a technicality — it's often the single most important factor determining what options a person has in court.
⚙️ The Deportation Machine
How cases flow through the system and what outcomes look like.
📊 Deportation Data
Removal orders, voluntary departures, and case outcomes.
Data source: DOJ EOIR FOIA Case Data, February 2026
Source: Department of Justice, Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR). Data current through February 2026. Learn more →