The Trump administration has taken another step in its aggressive immigration stance, dismissing 20 immigration judges along with several assistant chief judges.
This move aligns with the administration’s long-standing push for mass deportations and the reduction of the federal workforce, raising questions about the future of the overwhelmed immigration court system.
Mass Dismissals Amid Immigration Crisis
On Friday, 13 newly appointed judges who had yet to be sworn in were abruptly dismissed, along with five assistant chief immigration judges. This follows the firing of two other judges in the past week, bringing the total number of terminations to 20. According to Matthew Biggs, president of the International Federation of Professional & Technical Engineers, which represents federal workers, the dismissals were carried out without notice.
At present, the immigration courts are facing a backlog of over 3.7 million cases, a crisis that has been years in the making. Immigrants seeking asylum and legal status often wait years for their hearings, a situation that critics argue is worsened by the administration’s decision to remove judges instead of appointing more.
The Bigger Picture: Shrinking the Government and Expediting Deportations
The move is part of Trump’s broader effort to shrink the federal workforce while intensifying deportation efforts. During his second term, he has focused on streamlining immigration enforcement, and reducing the number of judges could be an attempt to speed up deportations by limiting the ability of immigrants to contest their cases in court.
The administration has also ordered agencies to lay off nearly all probationary employees who have not yet gained civil service protection. These workers, many of whom have been on the job for less than a year, will likely be affected across multiple departments.
A Shift in Immigration Court Policy
The Department of Justice (DOJ) had already replaced five top court officials, including the acting director of the Executive Office for Immigration Review, Mary Cheng. The new acting leader, Sirce Owen, an appellate immigration judge, has been reversing many Biden-era policies, which previously aimed to slow down mass deportations and improve the legal process for asylum seekers.
Just last month, the DOJ temporarily halted funding for NGOs that provide legal guidance to people facing deportation. However, after backlash and a federal lawsuit filed by nonprofit organizations, the funding was restored.
Uncertainty Over Judge Replacements
It remains unclear whether the fired judges will be replaced or whether the administration intends to leave the positions vacant as part of its broader effort to limit immigration case reviews.
Legal experts warn that removing judges could further clog the court system, leading to more immigrants being held in detention for extended periods while awaiting hearings. On the other hand, conservative advocates of Trump’s immigration policy argue that fewer judges could push cases through more quickly, limiting legal avenues for undocumented immigrants to remain in the country.
Political Reactions and Fallout
The decision has sparked political backlash. Immigration rights groups have condemned the move, calling it an attempt to dismantle due process for immigrants. Meanwhile, some Republican officials have applauded the dismissals, claiming that immigration courts have been too lenient in granting asylum.
With an election cycle underway, immigration remains one of the most divisive issues in American politics. Trump’s hardline policies continue to energize his base, but legal challenges are expected as advocacy groups prepare lawsuits to counter what they call an “assault on immigrant rights.”
For now, the fate of millions of immigrants caught in the system remains uncertain, as the legal and political battle over deportations and judicial oversight intensifies.
