Judge Advocate General’s Corps can help solve the asylum backlog

As many now insist, our immigration laws and system are in critical need of reform. One key area for improvement is the substantial backlog of cases awaiting adjudication by the administrative judges in our immigration courts. The docket of cases, a year long and growing, frustrates both the efforts to regain control of our borders, as desperate would-be immigrants seek to avoid the process, and the legitimate interests of asylum applicants, who deserve a timely hearing.

One solution would be to authorize the military Judge Advocate General’s Corps to hear and adjudicate immigration cases. The JAG officers, many of whom serve reserve duty each year, are skilled and experienced in courtroom adjudication and with orientation in immigration law could quickly clear the asylum backlog. This could be accomplished by presidential order, without the need for additional legislation.

Thomas W. Hussey, Alexandria