The Trump administration has dismissed 20 immigration judges, including five assistant chief judges and the entire December class of new judges who had yet to be sworn in, according to a source familiar with the firings. The move is part of broader efforts to reduce government staff.
The cuts come as U.S. immigration courts face a backlog of 3.7 million cases. It remains unclear whether the judges will be replaced, but the administration is seeking to accelerate deportations. Both parties have supported hiring more judges, though past efforts have also pressured them to process cases faster.
Judge Kerry E. Doyle, one of those dismissed, revealed her termination in a LinkedIn post, stating EOIR Acting Director Sirce Owen emailed her the decision. “This firing occurred despite the Immigration Court having 3.5 million pending cases,” Doyle wrote.
The firings follow Trump’s earlier termination of four top officials at the Executive Office for Immigration Review on his first day in office. The EOIR has not commented on the latest dismissals.
Discover more from News Facts Network
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
