The Trump administration has terminated 20 immigration judges in a move to reduce federal employees, further impacting an already overwhelmed immigration court system. The firings, which occurred on Friday, included five assistant chief judges and the entire December class of new judges who had not yet been sworn in.
Judge Firings Amid Immigration Case Backlog
The terminations come as U.S. immigration courts face a staggering 3.7 million case backlog, while President Donald Trump intensifies efforts to deport millions of undocumented immigrants. The fate of these vacated positions remains uncertain, but the administration seeks to cut through the growing case pileup.
Reaction from Fired Judge Kerry Doyle
One of the dismissed judges, Kerry E. Doyle, announced her termination via LinkedIn. Doyle, a former senior official in the Biden administration, criticized the decision, stating:
“This firing occurred despite the immigration courts facing 3.5 million pending cases, while the DOJ asks Congress for more funds to hire more staff!”
EOIR Turmoil and Prior Terminations
The Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR), which oversees 700 judges, has faced turmoil since the administration’s first day, when four top officials, including Chief Immigration Judge Sheila McNulty, were fired without warning. Despite bipartisan support for hiring more judges to address the backlog, the administration’s workforce cuts continue.
Outlook and Legal Ramifications
The EOIR has yet to comment on the latest firings. Meanwhile, immigration advocates warn that cutting judges will further delay proceedings, impacting millions of cases.
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