Salt Lake City, Utah — Utah’s newest immigration judge, Matthew Andrasko, has drawn attention for his lack of experience in immigration law after being appointed as part of a broader Department of Justice plan to bring military lawyers into the strained immigration court system. Andrasko spent the past decade as an attorney adviser for the U.S. Air Force and is one of 25 military attorneys who recently shifted into temporary six-month judicial roles nationwide.
The appointments follow a year of turnover under President Donald Trump’s administration, which removed several immigration judges and increased reliance on military personnel for enforcement efforts. Critics argue that selecting judges without immigration backgrounds risks unfair decision-making and may blur the line between military and civilian law enforcement. The Executive Office for Immigration Review did not comment on those criticisms but cited a national backlog exceeding 4.1 million cases as justification for expanding eligibility.
Utah attorneys say Andrasko is already hearing cases locally, despite expectations that he would be assigned to out-of-state dockets. Immigration lawyer Christopher Vizcardo, who recently appeared before him, described the judge as polite and reasonable but expressed concern about the ability of temporary judges to manage complex, yearslong cases under pressure to move quickly.
The state’s immigration court has faced deep staffing issues, dropping from five judges to two over the summer due to departures and a firing. While some lawyers say new judges may offer more favorable outcomes, others note uncertainty surrounding their training. The DOJ says judges receive six weeks of instruction, though NPR has reported a shorter two-week schedule.
Sources:
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U.S. Department of Justice – Unrated
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American Immigration Lawyers Association – Unrated
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