kocher, go ahead.is important to connect what is going on now to american history. the united states has been a destination for migrants for a very long time. that is a big part of the history of our country. and so i think it is important to put that in context. in fact, many people who came through ellis island 100 years ago, they came through without documentation, without papers. there was effectively no way to even come illegally or undocumented because there was no system for exclusion. the office created in the 1850's was created to recruit migrants for the u.s., not exclude and deport them so i think it is important to keep that in context -- keep that context in mind and see how it has changed over the last century and think about whether or not that adds some compassion and context. certainly there is a lot that has changed since the 1920's or 1940's and we have to keep up with those changes, but i think it is good to draw on our background to give us some perspective. host: mr. kocher, if so

host: this is austin kocher of syracuse university.f you want to ask him questions about the immigration related cases, particularly when it comes to asylum and other matters, you can call and ask. (202) 748-8001 for republicans. (202) 748-8000 for democrats. independents, (202) 748-8002. perhaps you have had experience with the immigration process, particularly on the legal front, and he want to ask a question. (202) 748-8003. you have probably heard on the senate side there was release of the text when it comes to the senate bill on border security. a couple of these things could apply directly to asylum. first of all, $20 billion would particularly go for immigration enforcement, including the hiring of thousands of new officers to evaluate asylum claims. i don't know if that means judges per say but how would the money and new officers influence the current system? guest: certainly. so the number of pieces coming into the court far exceed the number of cases that judges are able to complete in any given month or year. even though t

also, we speak with austin kocher, a research assistant at syracuse university, about the backlog inigration courts and impact on the asylum process in the u.s. "washington journal" is next. ♪ host: it is "washington journal" fort february 5. several news outlets reporting the biden administration authorizing several

. >> austin kocher, thanks for your time and discussion. yes: thanks for having me. host: that is it for "washington journal." happening right now on this network is the poor people's campaign. that program is just about to start. >> oh my. i don't want them to hear that out there. today, we are here to announce that on march 2, 2024, in 32 plus states that you will hear more about later, we will be holding the mass for people's low-wage workers -- part of the 42 weeks organizing mass mobilization of poor and low-wage voters across the usa to touch more than 15 million infrequent voters. between now and november. and to announce that in june, on june 15, we will also be marching on the united states congress to launch our summer initiative to continue to push to mobilize these 15 million poor and low income voters and low-wage workers. it is time for a resurrection and not an insurrection. and we, this year, are in the 60th anniversary of freedom summer. freedom and justice is that which one must continue to fight for. we want to introduce this first by way of our pr