In recent days, 17 immigration court judges were dismissed, raising concerns about the Trump administration’s approach to immigration. The International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers, which represents these judges, reported that 15 were fired on Friday and another two on Monday. These judges worked in courts across 10 states, including California, New York, and Texas.
Union President Matt Biggs expressed outrage, stating, “It’s against the public interest to fire judges while Congress has approved 800 positions.” Instead of letting go of judges, he argued, the focus should be on hiring more to address the growing concerns in immigration law.
These firings come at a time when courts are at the forefront of the administration’s strong immigration enforcement strategies. Reports have noted that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents have begun arresting individuals as they leave courtrooms, creating significant fear among immigrants and asylum seekers. In many cases, while judges dismiss deportation proceedings, people are still apprehended immediately after exiting the courtroom.
Currently, immigration courts face a daunting backlog of approximately 3.5 million cases. Many hearings can take years to reach a conclusion. Immigrants often represent themselves in court, as they do not have a guaranteed right to legal representation. This situation puts an extra burden on an already strained system.
Recently, a new legislation promising $170 billion for immigration enforcement includes $3.3 billion earmarked for immigration courts. This funding aims to increase the number of judges to 800 and boost staff support. However, the union warns that the ongoing firings will worsen the backlog, stating that it can take up to a year to recruit and train new judges. Currently, only around 600 judges are active in the system, according to union data.
This situation highlights the challenges faced within immigration law and enforcement. As the administration continues its policies, experts in immigration law and policy are calling for urgent reforms. The firing of judges adds to the complexities of an already troubled system that needs immediate attention.
Source link
General news, California, Immigration, Texas, Labor unions, Courts, United States government, U.S. Department of Justice, Fires, IL State Wire, Utah, LA State Wire, United States, OH State Wire, Maryland, CA State Wire, Ohio, VA State Wire, MD State Wire, Illinois, MA State Wire, TX State Wire, New York City, Virginia, Massachusetts, New York City Wire, New York, Louisiana, UT State Wire, NY State Wire, Matt Biggs, Washington news, Government and politics, U.S. news, World news, U.S. News, Politics, Washington News, World News
