AI Helps Immigration Lawyers Combat Historic Backlog

New AI platform aims to ease strain on attorneys and speed up cases for families in limbo

Published on Feb. 16, 2026

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The U.S. immigration system is facing an unprecedented backlog of over 11.3 million pending cases as of mid-2025, leaving families waiting months or years for decisions on legal status. This backlog reflects a surge in applications and a mismatch between demand and available legal resources, with immigration lawyers experiencing high stress and burnout. To combat this, immigration lawyers are turning to AI tools like DraftyAI to streamline routine tasks and free up time for higher-value work and client interaction.

Why it matters

The growing immigration backlog has left many families in limbo, unable to reunite with loved ones, work legally, or move forward with their lives. While AI cannot replace the essential role of human attorneys, even small gains in efficiency can make a big difference for these families waiting on paperwork.

The details

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services reported a record-high 11.3 million pending immigration cases as of mid-2025, including visa applications, green card petitions, and work authorizations. This backlog is due to a surge in applications and a shortage of immigration lawyers, leading to industrywide burnout. AI tools like DraftyAI can help streamline tasks like generating immigration briefs, waiver letters, and RFE responses, which typically consume dozens of hours per week for law firms.

  • As of mid-2025, there were over 11.3 million pending immigration cases in the U.S.
  • Multiple studies show immigration lawyers experience stress and emotional fatigue at rates well above the general population.

The players

DraftyAI

An artificial intelligence-powered case preparation platform that helps immigration attorneys streamline routine tasks.

Nadine Navarro

The CEO of DraftyAI, who says the platform can help reduce the time spent on tasks like generating immigration briefs and RFE responses.

Erik Brynjolfsson

The director of the Stanford Digital Economy Lab, who cautions that AI is meant to augment, not replace, the essential role of human attorneys.

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What they’re saying

“Behind every immigration case number is a real family waiting to work, reunite with loved ones or move forward with their lives.”

— Nadine Navarro, CEO of DraftyAI

“AI cannot do all the functions of a lawyer. Consumers rely on lawyers to provide their knowledge, apply their experience, use their judgment to make informed decisions and communicate throughout that problem-solving process.”

— Erik Brynjolfsson, Director of the Stanford Digital Economy Lab

“For families waiting on paperwork, the difference between a petition prepared in days rather than weeks can mean earlier job authorization, faster reunification with loved ones or fewer months of uncertainty.”

— Nadine Navarro, CEO of DraftyAI

What’s next

As the immigration system continues to face historic backlogs, the use of AI-powered tools by immigration lawyers is expected to grow, potentially helping to reduce processing times and provide relief for families in limbo.

The takeaway

While AI cannot replace the expertise of human immigration lawyers, the incorporation of advanced technologies can help alleviate the strain on the legal profession and make a meaningful difference in the lives of families waiting for immigration decisions.