Trump Admin Now Fires Immigration Judges Amid Growing Backlog

The Trump administration’s aggressive overhaul of the nation’s immigration court system escalated dramatically this month.

Nearly 20 immigration judges received termination notices in the largest single-month purge since February, according to sources familiar with the matter and union representatives.

This wave of firings adds to a staggering total of more than 125 judges lost through dismissals and resignations since the start of the year, exacerbating a record backlog of nearly 4 million cases even as the White House ramps up its mass deportation agenda.

The latest terminations, affecting courts in at least five states including Florida, New York, Maryland, California, and Washington, come at a pivotal moment.

Last Friday, at least 14 judges were notified they would be placed on administrative leave, with some facing immediate termination as early as Wednesday, sources told NPR.

This follows the dismissal of five additional judges earlier in September, marking the most intense period of cuts since two dozen probationary judges were axed right before their first day on the job in February.

Union leaders, who had anticipated heavy losses as many judges’ two-year probationary periods expired, decried the moves as a direct threat to judicial integrity and efficiency.

“The dismissal of more immigration judges is an illogical and costly setback for the nation’s immigration courts,” said Matt Biggs, president of the International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers (IFPTE), which represents the judges.

“At a time when the backlog has reached historic levels and the administration has made immigration enforcement a central issue, the removal of experienced judges is hypocritical, undermines the law, wastes taxpayer dollars, and further delays justice for citizens and immigrants alike.”

A Timeline of the Purge

The administration’s efforts to reshape the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) — a Justice Department arm overseeing immigration courts — have unfolded in waves, often coinciding with probationary deadlines and broader federal workforce reductions.

Here’s a breakdown based on union reports and media accounts:

Sources: IFPTE union reports, NPR, PBS News, American Immigration Council

The “Fork in the Road” program, introduced shortly after President Trump’s January inauguration, incentivized voluntary exits to shrink the federal bureaucracy, leading to dozens of resignations among EOIR staff.

Not all firings target probationers; some experienced judges, like those appointed under the prior administration, have alleged discrimination based on gender, race, or perceived political leanings, prompting legal challenges.

A culture of fear has permeated the courts, with employees wary of reprisals for speaking out.

Backlog Explosion Meets Enforcement Overhaul

Immigration judges — civil servants rather than Article III judicial officers — play a critical role in approving or denying final deportation orders, providing a modicum of due process in removal proceedings.

Yet the system is buckling under unprecedented strain: The pending caseload has ballooned to nearly 4 million, up from 3.5 million earlier this year, with some hearings now scheduled as far out as 2029.

Advocates argue the firings are self-defeating, as vacancies go unfilled despite open postings, forcing inexperienced replacements or no coverage at all.

This comes despite congressional action to bolster the courts.

A massive spending bill signed earlier this year allocated over $3 billion to the Justice Department for immigration activities, explicitly including funds to hire more judges and staff.

Training new judges, however, can take over a year, leaving immediate gaps.

In response, EOIR leadership has ramped up pressure on remaining judges to “efficiently manage” caseloads, encouraging streamlined asylum reviews and oral decisions over written ones to speed up dismissals.

The administration has also lowered barriers for temporary adjudicators, eliminating prior immigration experience requirements.

A major countermeasure: In early September, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth authorized up to 600 military lawyers from the Judge Advocate General’s Corps to serve as temporary immigration judges for up to 179 days, aiming to fast-track deportations.

This builds on August regulatory changes allowing any federal attorney to step in, part of a broader $170 billion enforcement infusion.

Critics, including Democratic senators like Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper, have fired off letters demanding answers, warning that the purges could “tip the scales” toward biased outcomes.

Immigration advocates echo this, noting circumstantial evidence that judges with higher asylum grant rates — often those appointed under Biden — are being targeted.

“You can’t enforce immigration laws when you fire the enforcers,” one expert quipped.

Broader Implications for Trump’s Deportation Drive

The dispute underscores the tensions in Trump’s pledge to deport millions of undocumented immigrants.

While arrests by Immigration and Customs Enforcement have surged — with federal agents patrolling court halls — the judiciary bottleneck risks prolonging stays for those fighting removal, potentially reuniting families or allowing work authorizations in the interim.

Fired judges, including Kerry Doyle from a Massachusetts court and San Francisco’s Loi McCleskey, have vowed to fight back through lawsuits, alleging unlawful targeting.

As one ousted judge put it: “This is part of a broader attack on the court system.”

Also Read: GOP Members Now Believe Trump Is Named First In The Epstein Files

For customer support or to report typos and corrections please get in contact via media@franknez.com.

About The Author

Randros

Journalist & Writer. Crypto Market & U.S. Economy news segments.
A verified FrankNez journalist ✔️

See author's posts