Trump Administration Ousts More Immigration Judges in Controversial Move: NPR

This month, nearly twenty immigration judges were notified via email that their positions were terminated, adding to the more than eighty judges dismissed under President Trump’s administration earlier this year, according to NPR sources.

Reports from two confidential sources and confirmation from the International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers (IFPTE)-the union representing immigration judges-reveal that at least fourteen judges were informed last Friday that they would be placed on leave, with some facing termination as early as the following Wednesday. The affected courts span several states, including Florida, New York, Maryland, California, and Washington.

This recent wave of dismissals follows the earlier termination of five immigration judges this month, marking September as the month with the highest number of firings since February, when nearly two dozen judges were let go just before starting their roles.

Advocates argue that these dismissals contradict the administration’s stated objective of strengthening immigration enforcement. Conversely, officials claim that the judges have failed to adequately manage their increasing caseloads and that reforms have been implemented to expedite case processing. This ongoing conflict highlights the complexities involved in the administration’s efforts to curb illegal immigration and deport millions of undocumented individuals.

Union representatives had anticipated significant layoffs this month, coinciding with the conclusion of the two-year probationary period for many immigration judges. These terminations occur amid the administration’s push to boost deportation numbers. Immigration judges, functioning similarly to civil servants, hold the authority to approve or deny deportation orders. Critics contend that prioritizing enforcement in this manner diminishes the due process afforded to immigrants, especially as many dismissed judges are replaced by less experienced adjudicators or not replaced at all.

“Removing more immigration judges is a counterproductive and expensive blow to the nation’s immigration courts,” stated IFPTE President Matt Biggs in a message to NPR. “With backlogs at unprecedented levels and immigration enforcement a key focus of the administration, dismissing seasoned judges is contradictory, undermines legal integrity, wastes taxpayer money, and prolongs justice delays for both citizens and immigrants.”

Not all judges dismissed this year had completed their probationary period with the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR), a division of the U.S. Department of Justice. Nevertheless, these firings have fostered a climate of apprehension among EOIR staff. Many have opted for the “Fork in the Road” program, a voluntary resignation initiative launched after President Trump assumed office to reduce federal workforce numbers. EOIR has declined to provide comments on the matter.

Over the past nine months, EOIR has seen a reduction of more than 125 judges through firings and voluntary departures, decreasing from approximately 700 judges at the year’s start. This attrition has caused immigration case hearings to be postponed as far out as 2029, as previously reported by NPR, despite ongoing recruitment efforts to fill vacancies.

Ongoing dismissals amid mounting case backlogs

The recent dismissals occurred shortly after Congress passed a substantial spending package allocating over $3 billion to the Justice Department for immigration-related operations, including the recruitment of additional immigration judges. This funding aims to address the swelling backlog of nearly four million cases. However, onboarding and training new judges is a lengthy process that can exceed a year.

In recent months, EOIR leadership has publicly criticized judges for inefficient case management and has urged them to expedite asylum case reviews by favoring oral rulings over written decisions when dismissing cases.

Earlier this month, the Justice Department authorized approximately 600 military attorneys to serve temporarily as immigration judges. Additionally, the DOJ revised the eligibility criteria for temporary immigration judges, lowering the bar by removing the requirement for prior immigration law experience.