BOSTON (WPRI) — Federal immigration authorities say they are on pace to file a record number of deportation cases this year in Massachusetts.

Data shows an estimated 59,000 cases by the end of the fiscal year, which is on Sept. 30. It would be the largest number of new filings in Massachusetts since 2001

According to the data, there’s been a 300% increase in cases seen at U.S. immigration courts over the last five years.

Sarah Sherman-Stokes, with the Immigrants’ Rights & Human Trafficking Program at BU School of Law said she is not surprised cases are going up.

See more at wpri.com.