Overview
- Reporting indicates roughly 100 immigration judges have been fired or pushed out since January, contributing to about one in five departures this year when resignations are included.
- Eight judges were dismissed from New York City’s immigration courts this week, with earlier removals in San Francisco, leaving the 26 Federal Plaza court with about 26 judges.
- The Justice Department and Homeland Security are recruiting with “You Be The Judge” materials that promote “deportation judge” roles, a label not used in official job titles.
- Hiring standards for temporary posts have been loosened and the Pentagon approved sending up to 600 military lawyers to serve as immigration judges, a move legal groups warn could undermine due process.
- A fired judge, Tania Nemer, filed a Title VII lawsuit this week as Democrats float legislation to restrict temporary appointments, while a September DOJ memo asserts broad at-will removal authority and the department denies targeting judges.