Key takeaways:

• 20 immigration judges have been fired by the Trump administration without prior notice.
• The immigration court system faces a backlog exceeding 3.7 million pending cases.
• There is bipartisan support for increased staffing in immigration courts, highlighting the struggles of the existing judges.

The Trump administration has dismissed 20 immigration judges over the weekend in a move that raises significant concerns amidst a crushing backlog of over three million cases in the U.S. immigration court system. According to reports, 13 judges who had not yet been sworn in, along with five assistant chief immigration judges, were dismissed on Friday without any explanation, as stated by Matthew Biggs, president of the International Federation of Professional & Technical Engineers. This abrupt action comes on the heels of the firing of two additional judges earlier in the week, leading to fears about how the Justice Department's actions will affect the already overburdened court system.

With asylum cases taking years to resolve and the courts handling approximately 700 cases per judge annually, the current situation is described as one of overwhelming pressure. Legal experts, including immigration attorney LaToya McBean Pompy, argue that these dismissals will lead to even longer wait times for asylum seekers. “This means that a whole lot of people will get a chance to stay here a lot longer," she explained. Moreover, the Trump administration's emphasis on expedited case resolutions paradoxically conflicts with the recent increase in judge dismissals.

The firings coincide with the Trump administration's broader agenda of mass deportations — a plan that has garnered mixed responses from voters according to The Hill. A New York Times/Ipsos poll revealed that while 55% of voters support mass deportation measures, there is an undeniable sentiment across the political spectrum that the immigration system is fundamentally broken. In fact, there is significant bipartisan backing for hiring more immigration judges, emphasizing the need for a capable judiciary to handle existing immigration cases efficiently.

Following the dismissals, the current leadership of the Executive Office for Immigration Review, under Sirce Owen, has signaled a shift in policies, reversing many of the approaches adopted by the Biden administration. As stated by immigration judge Kerry Doyle, who was terminated during this upheaval, it is perplexing to dismiss judges while simultaneously requesting congressional funds to expand the staff at the Executive Office for Immigration Review — a contradictory approach that has drawn criticism from multiple quarters.

With a staggering backlog of immigration cases, it remains to be seen how the removal of these judges will specifically impact the already delayed timelines for resolving case decisions. James Fujimoto, a former immigration judge, aptly described the current scenario as "overwhelmed" and stressed that addressing this issue likely necessitates legislative intervention. As the Trump administration continues to pursue drastic reductions in the size of the federal workforce and advocates for aggressive deportation policies, stakeholders await clarity on the future operation of immigration courts.

This development highlights significant tension in the administration’s approach to immigration reform, especially amidst broad calls for a more effective and humane immigration system. The recent changes further complicate an already critical and contentious landscape for immigration in the United States.

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