Federal district and circuit courts have seen their dockets balloon with immigration cases over the last decade. The federal government’s intensified attention to enforcement and border security, prosecution of unauthorized border crossers, and a surge in the number of people who have appealed their deportation orders have contributed to the increase. Meanwhile, the backlog in immigration courts continues to reach new heights.

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Lauren Rabaino is a Seattle-based digital journalist who was born and raised in Tulare County, Calif.