Courts are currently backlogged with 3.7m cases as US president demands more deportations

Summary

The Trump administration has abruptly fired 20 immigration judges without explanation, raising concerns amid efforts to accelerate deportations.

The firings include judges who had yet to be sworn in and senior officials overseeing immigration courts, which already face a backlog of 3.7 million cases.

Union official Matthew Biggs said it was unclear if the move was meant to send a message on immigration policy but called it part of a broader federal workforce purge, adding, “They’re treating these people as if they’re not human beings. It’s bad all around.”

  • OmegaMan
    8·
    5 days ago

    Also worth noting that immigration courts are pretty much just theater. Most of these people do not have lawyers, and unlike a criminal court they do not have the right to a public defender. They aren’t part of the judicial branch which is why trump can just fire the judges.

    Imagine a court where the judge and the prosecutor have the same boss… That’s immigration court. It’s a sham masquerading as justice.