Quick Picks: Immigration Frustration and Blago’s List

An immigration courts system at risk of being overwhelmed is leaving suspected illegal immigrants in limbo, sometimes for years, USA Today reports. An examination of dockets dating back to 2003 found 90,000 individuals who waited more than two years for a judge’s decision, and 14,000 who waited more than 5 years. In some cases, the investigation found, it took decades. While they wait, some remain in detention, and others are forced to eke out an existence while their status remains uncertain.

Four of the names on former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s list of targeted campaign sugar daddies were possible candidates for Barack Obama’s vacant Senate seat, according to an internal campaign document obtained by the Chicago Sun-Times. The document lists potential solicitation targets in Blago’s race to raise $2.3 million late last year, before an Illinois law banning contributions for state contractors and appointees took effect. The individuals in question are J.B. Pritzker, Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-IL) and, this one may be familiar: Roland Burris.

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