TRUMP Administration Fires 20 Immigration Judges Overnight!

Trump Administration Fires Judges Without Explanation Amid Mass Federal Workforce Shakeup

The Trump administration has abruptly dismissed 20 immigration judges in a sweeping move that raises concerns about the future of the U.S. immigration court system. This decision, confirmed by a union official on Saturday, is part of broader efforts to shrink the size of the federal government and tighten immigration policies.

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Sudden Firings Raise Questions

According to Matthew Biggs, president of the International Federation of Professional & Technical Engineers, which represents federal workers, the firings took place without warning. On Friday alone, 13 judges who had not yet been sworn in and five assistant chief immigration judges were terminated without prior notice. Additionally, two other judges were dismissed earlier in the week under similar circumstances.

The U.S. Justice Department’s Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR), which oversees the immigration court system and its roughly 700 judges, has not provided any explanation for the terminations. It remains unclear whether these judges will be replaced or if the administration plans to leave the vacancies open, potentially deepening the crisis in the already overburdened immigration courts.

It remains uncertain whether the judges will be replaced, but the president’s team is focused on clearing the backlog—a key obstacle in the administration’s immigration strategy. | Wilfredo Lee/AP

Massive Immigration Court Backlogs and Growing Concerns

The U.S. immigration court system is already overwhelmed, with more than 3.7 million pending cases, according to Syracuse University’s Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse. The backlog has created delays spanning several years for asylum seekers and others waiting for their cases to be heard.

There has been bipartisan support for increasing the number of immigration judges and court staff to help clear the backlog. However, during Trump’s first term, his administration pressured judges to speed up case decisions, prioritizing efficiency over due process. The latest firings signal a continuation of this approach, raising concerns about fair proceedings for those navigating the immigration system.

Major Leadership Changes and Policy Shifts

The Trump administration has already made significant personnel changes at the EOIR. In recent weeks, five top court officials, including Mary Cheng, the agency’s acting director, were replaced. The agency is now led by Sirce Owen, a former appellate immigration judge who has already implemented a series of policy reversals, undoing many immigration-related directives from the Biden administration.

One of the most controversial moves came last month when the Justice Department halted financial assistance for nonprofit organizations that provide legal information and guidance to individuals facing deportation. After facing legal challenges from advocacy groups, the administration was forced to restore the funding.

A Wider Federal Workforce Purge?

The firings of immigration judges appear to align with two major Trump administration priorities: mass deportations and reducing the size of the federal government. The administration has also ordered agencies to lay off nearly all probationary federal employees who have not yet gained civil service protections, a decision that could impact hundreds of thousands of workers.

Since probationary employees typically have less than a year on the job, critics argue that the move disproportionately affects newly hired workers and disrupts government functions. Union leaders and labor rights advocates have characterized these actions as part of a broader effort to consolidate control over federal agencies by removing employees who may resist hardline policies.

Union Reaction and Human Impact

Matthew Biggs, the union official, questioned whether the firings of immigration judges were intended to send a message on immigration enforcement. He described the move as part of a broader pattern of targeting federal employees, particularly those working in agencies that deal with immigration and asylum cases.

“They’re treating these people as if they’re not human beings,” Biggs said. “It’s bad all around.”

The move has sparked outrage among immigrant advocacy groups and legal experts, who warn that eliminating experienced judges will only exacerbate the inefficiencies and injustices within the immigration system.

As Trump’s administration continues to push aggressive policies on immigration and government downsizing, the fate of the immigration courts remains uncertain. Will these judges be replaced, or is this the beginning of an even more drastic restructuring?

Stay tuned for further updates as the situation unfolds.