Firing Immigration Judges and Building Prisons: Part 1

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The Trump administration continues its transparently cruel approach to immigration enforcement by simultaneously spending billions on detention while firing experienced judges whose job it is to hear immigration cases. The backlog of cases stretches for years, and any rational strategy would include retaining all qualified judges while aggressively recruiting and hiring more. 

"This is pure hypocrisy. We shouldn't be firing judges, we should be hiring them." Matt Briggs, president of union representing judges.

Over 100 immigration judges fired or resigned this year

600: Approximate current total of immigration judges

800: Target number of federal immigration judges

71 immigration court hearing centers nationwide

3.4 million: Immigration court backlog

500-600 cases per year heard by each judge

666,177 initial case decisions in FY24

1.5% of cases brought on basis of a criminal accusation

According to the Associated Press, over 100 immigration judges have either resigned or been fired as of July, and additional firings were announced in August. Whereas the Department of Justice funding has been increased the stated intention of raising the number of judges from 700 to 800, the number has dropped to about 600 this year. Typically, no reason is given for the terminations, many falling within the two year probationary period for federal employees.

There are 71 immigration courts across the country, with a backlog of almost 4 million cases, including over one million asylum cases, according to Ximena Bustillo of NPR. The backlog seems impossible, however, over 600,000 case decisions were handed down in FY24, so, the system is equipped to move cases if that is the goal. 

Representatives of the judges union reported to Bustillo that "there have been three rounds of firings, including getting rid of a new class of judges that had not even taken the bench yet...former Homeland Security prosecutors, veterans, decades-long federal employees, and those with years of immigration law experience." ("Inside one of the most understaffed immigration courts in the country," NPR, August 13, 2025)  

Continued in Part 2: 

Lengthy detention of people in privately run for-profit prisons is objectional on moral, humanitarian, and economic grounds.  

Continued in Part 3:

"Alligator Alcatraz" ICE prison

Inside one of the most understaffed immigration courts in the country (August 13, 2025)

NPR: More Immigration Judges Fired (July 15, 2025)... 

Trump Fires 17 Immigration Judges Across Ten States (July 15, 2025)

Trump Fires More Immigration Judges (April 15, 2025)...

tracreports.org - Immigration court quick facts

Daily cost of ICE Detention almost $200