Overview

• Over 100 immigration officials, including 43 judges and 85 administrative staff, have been terminated or resigned under the Trump administration's workforce reduction initiatives.
• The U.S. immigration court system faces a backlog of 3.7 million cases, with the loss of judges and staff further delaying deportation proceedings and straining resources.
• Critics argue that the layoffs, which include Biden-era appointees, reflect political motivations and undermine the administration's stated goal of expediting deportations.
• The Justice Department has rescinded protections for immigration judges, heightening fears of political influence and further destabilizing the court system.
• Legal experts warn that the firings and policy shifts could collapse the already overburdened immigration court system, leaving thousands of cases unresolved for years.