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.
⚙️ 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