The pace of apprehensions along the southwest border has not slowed since reaching record numbers in fiscal year 2021.

Tens of thousands of criminal cases remain backlogged in the Harris County criminal justice system; leaving victims and the accused waiting longer and longer for their day in court. Even the most optimistic estimate from the Harris County Budget Management Department shows it could takes two years to make a significant dent in the backlog.

Harris County commissioners recently approved spending $3.8 million to extend a lease agreement with the Harris County Sports and Convention Corporation.

KPRC 2 investigates the IRS backlog and how it’s impacting people in our area. Right now, the United States Treasury is still working on some 9 million tax returns from 2020. The delays are causing a domino effect for business owners who need their tax returns to get emergency disaster loans. One Woodlands couple called KPRC 2 Investigates because they worry they will have to close their business if they can’t get help soon.

There is growing concern among immigrant rights advocates and immigration attorneys on rather the number of migrants apprehended along our southern border will deepen an already staggering backlog of cases in immigration court.

HOUSTON – Many Houston-area immigration advocates and families are hopeful President Joe Biden can enact sweeping immigration reforms. Cloud, who is in favor of immigration reform, is talking about backlogs in immigration court and with U.S. AdFoster has worked with Republican and Democratic administrations on immigration reform. These types of legal challenges are why immigration advocates are only cautiously optimistic about reform. Plus, many remember pledges for immigration reform from President Barack Obama that never came to fruition.