On Sunday, February 16, 2025, NBC News reported that the Justice Department terminated several immigration judges amid ongoing concerns about a significant backlog in immigration cases. This decision, confirmed by sources familiar with the situation and an announcement from one of the judges on LinkedIn, adds further strain to a system that is already challenged.

The terminations were executed by the acting director of the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR), which is responsible for overseeing immigration courts. According to the International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers, the firings included five mid-level assistant chief immigration judges and thirteen candidates who were in the process of becoming judges. This action reflects a broader trend of dismissals that have occurred since the beginning of the Trump administration, with over two dozen judges and managers reported terminated.

Matt Biggs, president of the International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers, voiced concerns about the implications of these firings. He noted the contradiction in the administration’s approach to immigration, pointing out that while there is a push to remove individuals from the country, the very judges who adjudicate these cases are being let go. The firings were particularly striking given the context of a backlog that has ballooned to approximately 3.5 million pending cases, which the Department of Justice is reportedly asking Congress to help address by allocating additional resources.

Kerry Doyle, one of the recently dismissed judges, shared her experience on LinkedIn, stating that she and other judges hired during the Biden administration received termination notices via email. Doyle, who previously served as deputy general counsel for the Department of Homeland Security under Biden, described the firing as politically motivated. However, NBC News has been unable to independently verify the total number of judges dismissed or the reasons behind the firings.

The decision to fire these judges comes at a time when the immigration court system is facing unprecedented challenges. The Congressional Research Service has reported record-high enforcement encounters at the southern border, leading to the filing of more than 1.8 million new cases last year alone. This surge has compounded the backlog, which reached 3.6 million cases by the end of 2024, despite efforts by the Biden administration to recruit additional judges and reduce processing times.

Biggs emphasized the need for bipartisan support to hire more immigration judges, especially given the current backlog. He highlighted the administrative focus on firings rather than solutions to the congestion within the immigration system. The Trump administration has prioritized hiring personnel to support mass deportations, a campaign promise made by the former president, which has influenced staffing decisions within various federal agencies.

Tom Homan, often referred to as Trump’s “border czar,” has been involved in recruiting personnel from multiple federal bodies, including the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, to assist Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in executing arrests. Homan clarified that the efforts extend beyond ICE, involving a range of federal law enforcement agencies.

In addition to these developments, the Department of Homeland Security has instructed the Internal Revenue Service to investigate businesses suspected of employing undocumented immigrants and to look into human trafficking operations. Reports have also surfaced indicating that the administration is considering using funding from the Department of Defense to hire contractors aimed at expanding immigrant arrests and deportations.

The recent firings of immigration judges reflect a broader trend of upheaval within the Justice Department. Traditionally, incoming administrations have requested resignations from politically appointed U.S. attorneys, but the current administration has opted to dismiss a significant number, including as many as twelve U.S. attorneys, marking a notable departure from past practices.

Moreover, the Justice Department has recently dismissed several career lawyers involved in cases related to Donald Trump’s alleged attempts to overturn the 2020 election results and allegations concerning the mishandling of classified documents. Following his election to a second term, Trump pleaded not guilty to all charges, and the cases were subsequently dropped.

The early weeks of Trump’s second administration have been characterized by a substantial overhaul of the federal workforce, with large-scale dismissals reported across various government agencies. A federal judge recently approved a mass buyout plan allowing the administration to incentivize voluntary resignations, while the Office of Personnel Management has advised agencies to terminate employees on probationary status.

The ongoing changes within the Justice Department and immigration courts signal a significant shift in the federal approach to immigration and enforcement, raising questions about the future of the immigration system in the United States.

 

 

Source: NBC News