In a controversial move, the Trump administration has dismissed 20 immigration judges without explanation, further exacerbating the already overwhelming backlog in the U.S. immigration court system.
The firings, which occurred on Friday, included 13 judges who had yet to be sworn in and five assistant chief immigration judges, according to Matthew Biggs, president of the International Federation of Professional & Technical Engineers.
This decision comes at a time when the immigration courts are facing a staggering backlog of over 3.7 million cases, with asylum cases taking years to resolve. The U.S. Justice Department’s Executive Office for Immigration Review, which oversees the courts and approximately 700 judges, has not provided any comments on the dismissals or whether the positions will be refilled.
The administration’s actions align with its priorities of accelerating deportations and reducing the size of the federal workforce. Last month, the Justice Department briefly halted financial support for non-governmental organizations that provide information and guidance to individuals facing deportation, before restoring the funding after a coalition of nonprofits filed a lawsuit.
Union representative Biggs expressed concerns about the treatment of federal employees, stating, “They’re treating these people as if they’re not human beings. It’s bad all around.”
The firings also come amid a broader restructuring of the immigration court system, with the administration replacing several top officials and issuing new directives that reverse policies implemented during the Biden administration.
As the crisis in the immigration courts continues to deepen, the debate around the need for more judges and support staff remains a pressing issue across the political spectrum. The abrupt dismissals have drawn criticism and concern from various advocacy groups, further complicating the landscape of U.S. immigration policy.
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