Fact check: What is the current green card backlog for Mexican applicants?

1. Summary of the results

The current green card backlog for Mexican applicants varies significantly by category, with some categories experiencing wait times of nearly two decades. Based on the most recent visa bulletin data:

Family-Based Categories:

• F1 (unmarried adult children of U.S. citizens): Cut-off date of June 1, 2006 - representing approximately 19 years of backlog ^{[1] [2]}
• F2A (spouses and unmarried children under 21 of green card holders): Cut-off date of March 1, 2025 - essentially current with minimal backlog ^{[1] [2]}
• F2B (unmarried adult children of green card holders): Cut-off date of April 1, 2008 - representing approximately 17 years of backlog, though this category advanced by 1 year recently ^{[1] [2]}
• F3 (married children of U.S. citizens): Cut-off date of June 15, 2001 - representing approximately 24 years of backlog ^{[1] [2]}
• F4 (siblings of U.S. citizens): Cut-off date of April 30, 2001 - representing approximately 24 years of backlog ^{[1] [2]}

Employment-Based Categories:

• EB-1 (priority workers): Current - no backlog ^{[1] [2]}
• EB-2 (advanced degree professionals): Cut-off date of October 15, 2023 - representing approximately 2 years of backlog ^{[1] [2]}
• EB-3 (skilled workers): Cut-off date of April 1, 2023 - representing approximately 2 years of backlog, with recent advancement of nearly 2 months ^{[1] [2]}
• EB-4 (special immigrants): Unauthorized - has reached its annual limit ^[1]
• EB-5 (investors): Current - no backlog ^[1]

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

The original question lacks several critical contextual elements that significantly impact understanding of the green card backlog situation:

Systemic Issues: The analyses reveal that there is a broader problem of unused green cards that Congress could recapture to address growing backlogs across the immigration system ^[3]. This suggests that the backlog isn't solely due to high demand but also due to administrative inefficiencies and legislative inaction.

Recent Processing Changes: One analysis mentions a suspension in processing certain green card applications that impacted refugees and asylees, indicating that administrative policies can dramatically affect processing times beyond normal backlogs ^[4].

Category-Specific Variations: The question doesn't specify which type of green card category is of interest, yet the wait times vary dramatically - from current processing to 24-year backlogs depending on the specific family or employment relationship ^{[1] [2]}.

Recent Improvements: Some categories have shown significant advancement, such as the F-2B category advancing by 1 year and the EB-3 category moving forward by nearly 2 months, suggesting that certain backlogs are being addressed more actively than others ^[1].

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original question itself doesn't contain misinformation, but it oversimplifies a complex system by asking for "the" backlog as if there's a single answer. This framing could lead to misunderstanding because:

Oversimplification: By asking for "the current green card backlog," the question implies there's one unified backlog, when in reality there are multiple distinct backlogs ranging from no wait time to 24-year delays depending on the specific category (p1_s1, p2_