“DOJ Fires Immigration Judges as Case Backlog Spirals Out of Control!”
The Department of Justice (DOJ) fired multiple immigration judges on Friday, a move that could further strain an already overwhelmed immigration system.
- The exact number of firings is unclear, but reports indicate at least five assistant chief immigration judges and 13 judicial candidates were terminated.
- The International Federation of Professional & Technical Engineers (IFPTE) claims more than two dozen judges, managers, and new hires have been fired since the start of the Trump administration.
- Critics argue the decision contradicts Trump’s hardline stance on immigration, with IFPTE President Matt Biggs calling it a “head scratcher.”
Fired Judges Speak Out
- Kerry Doyle, a Biden-appointed immigration judge, confirmed she and others were dismissed via email Friday.
- Doyle, formerly Deputy General Counsel at DHS, called the move “political”, claiming only Biden-era hires were targeted.
- She emphasized the 3.5 million pending immigration cases, stating:
“DOJ is asking Congress for more funding to hire more judges—yet they’re firing us!”
With millions of cases in limbo, the DOJ’s decision raises questions about the future of U.S. immigration courts.
DOJ Firings Deepen Immigration Crisis as Backlog Nears 4 Million Cases
The Department of Justice (DOJ) and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) have remained silent following the mass firing of immigration judges, a move that threatens to worsen the record-breaking case backlog in U.S. immigration courts.
- The case backlog hit 3.6 million by the end of 2024, fueled by 1.8 million new cases from last year’s border enforcement surge.
- Despite bipartisan support for hiring more judges, the firings will exacerbate delays, said IFPTE President Matt Biggs:
“This administration has been very successful in increasing the backlog.”
Trump’s Immigration Crackdown Intensifies
- The administration is prioritizing mass deportations, with Trump’s ‘border czar’ Tom Homan enlisting DEA, FBI, ATF, and U.S. Marshals to assist ICE raids.
- DHS is targeting businesses hiring undocumented workers and investigating human trafficking under Secretary Kristi Noem’s orders.
- The administration is exploring Defense Department funds to expand detention centers using private contractors.
DOJ Firings Part of Wider Federal Workforce Shakeup
- The DOJ also fired 12 U.S. attorneys, marking a departure from typical transitions between administrations.
- Career lawyers involved in Trump-related legal cases were removed, following the dismissal of charges against Trump.
- A federal judge approved Trump’s mass buyout plan, allowing millions of federal employees to resign with pay until September.
- The Office of Personnel Management instructed agencies to fire probationary employees.
- The Department of Government Efficiency, led by Elon Musk, is restructuring agencies, with USAID and CFPB among the targets.
🚨 With mass firings, deportation crackdowns, and sweeping government changes, Trump’s second term is reshaping federal operations at an unprecedented scale.
This article was originally published on NBCNews.com