Trump Fires Immigration Judges Amid Growing Court Backlog

The Trump administration has taken another big step in reshaping the federal workforce by firing a group of immigration judges. The Justice Department has overseen these significant personnel changes within the U.S. immigration court system. This includes the removal of key officials, such as Mary Cheng, the agency’s acting director. This comes at a time when the U.S. immigration court system is clogged with a huge backlog of cases.

Details of the Firings: Fires 20 Immigration Judges

• Mass Firings: On Friday, February 14, 2025, the Department of Justice (DOJ) fired five assistant chief immigration judges and the entire class of new judges from December who had not yet been sworn in.
• Judges Fired: The Trump administration fires 20 immigration judges in the Justice Department’s Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) without notice.
• No Reason Given: The DOJ has not said whether these judges will be replaced, so we don’t know if the court system will be able to manage its caseload.
• Leadership Overhaul: This is the latest in a series of sudden firings of key EOIR officials:
• Chief Immigration Judge Sheila McNulty
• Acting Director of EOIR Mary Cheng
• EOIR General Counsel Jill Anderson
• EOIR Head of Policy Lauren Alder Reid

No Reasons Given

Many judges received termination notices from the DOJ with no explanation.

One of the fired judges, Kerry Doyle, who was assigned to the Chelmsford, Massachusetts, immigration court in December, shared her email:

• The DOJ letter said retaining her was “not in the best interest of the agency.”
• No further explanation was given.
• EOIR and DOJ have not commented on the terminations. The Justice Department did not immediately respond to requests for comments about the firings.

Impact on the Immigration Court System

• Severe Backlog: Immigration courts have a backlog of 3.7 million cases, so asylum seekers and other immigration applicants are waiting for a long time. According to Syracuse University’s Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse (TRAC), U.S. immigration judges have 4,500 cases each. Firing multiple judges will further strain an already overwhelmed system, lengthening wait times for asylum seekers, immigrants and deportation cases. The significant role of appellate immigration judges in the courts is crucial in managing these backlogs and ensuring fair decisions.
• Further Delays: Firing judges without replacements will further delay hearings and case resolutions, making it even harder for the administration to expedite deportations. With fewer judges, processing times for immigration cases will get even longer (potentially up to 4-5 years or more). The DOJ has not said if these positions will be filled so we don’t know if the courts will be able to manage their caseload. The layoffs primarily impacted probationary employees lacking civil service protection, indicating a strategy to streamline government operations amidst significant backlogs in immigration courts.
• More stress on remaining judges, leading to rushed or unfair decisions
• Policy Shifts: Could this be a sign of changes in how immigration cases will be handled under the Trump administration?
• Bipartisan Support for More Judges: Both Republicans and Democrats have long agreed that we need more judges and support staff to manage the growing caseload.
• Border Policies: More scrutiny of border crossings and expedited deportations.
• Legal Representation Needs: Immigrants may need more legal aid to navigate the increasingly complex system.

Why It Matters

President Donald Trump has promised to carry out the largest mass deportation in U.S. history targeting the estimated 11.7 million undocumented immigrants in the country.

A New York Times/Ipsos poll in January 2025 found:

• 55% of voters strongly or somewhat support Trump’s immigration plans.
• 88% support deporting undocumented immigrants with criminal records.
• A majority of Democrats and Republicans agree the current immigration system is broken.

While these policies have public support, they also have concerns about impact on immigrant communities, families and economy.

Reactions to the Firings

Kudge Kerry E. Doyle Speaks Out: One of the fired judges, Kerry E. Doyle, announced her termination on LinkedIn: “This firing occurred despite the fact the Immigration Court has about 3.5 MILLION pending cases and DOJ is asking Congress for more money to hire more people at EOIR! (Hint: don’t fire the people you already have!).”

Union Response: Matthew Biggs, president of the International Federation of Professional & Technical Engineers, which represents federal workers, said the firings were “like they’re not human beings”. A union official confirmed that the union is advocating for the rights of the affected workers amidst broader administrative actions aimed at reducing the federal workforce. “The firing of immigration judges when we need more judges to enforce our immigration laws by this administration is hypocrisy,” said Biggs.

DOJ’s Response

A memo dated January 27 from Sirce Owen, Acting Director of the Department of Justice: “The Biden administration has undermined the core values of the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR). An effort to restore those values and make EOIR a model administrative adjudicatory body is underway. If all employees are on board with that, there is no limit to what EOIR can do. James Fujimoto, a retired judge, said: “The back-and-forth with executive orders won’t fix this. Congress must act.”

Growth in Immigration Cases and Workforce Reductions

Immigration cases have surged due to:

• Increased border crossings and asylum claims.
• Tighter immigration enforcement leading to more removal proceedings.
• Lack of investment in immigration court staffing, leaving the system unable to keep up with demand.

Both under Trump and Biden, more judges were hired but never enough to keep up with the caseload. Many experts say instead of firing judges, more should be added to manage the backlog efficiently.

Administration’s Immigration Goals

• Mass Deportations: The Trump administration wants to fulfill its promise of deporting millions of undocumented immigrants. But reducing judicial capacity may make it harder to process these cases.
• Policy Reversals: The administration has reversed several immigration policies from the Biden era, indicating a shift in how immigration cases will be handled.

Federal Workforce Downsizing

This fit’s with the administration’s broader goal to shrink the federal government. The firings are part of a broader effort to reshape the federal workforce by replacing top court officials. Recently, agencies were told to lay off nearly all probationary employees who had not yet gained civil service status, affecting hundreds of thousands of workers.

Legal and Operational Problems:

The mass reduction of the federal workforce has legal implications, particularly for civil service employees who have due process and appeal rights. The Trump administration earlier replaced several top court officials amid efforts to reorganize the immigration court system. Labor groups and federal unions have filed multiple lawsuits challenging these actions saying they violate laws designed to prevent political firings.

Union Efforts and broader implications

The terminations also impact the ongoing efforts by immigration judges to unionize.

• In 2020, the Trump administration succeeded in de-certifying the National Association of Immigration Judges (NAIJ).
• In December 2024, immigration judges began trying to re-recognize the union, arguing that de-certification was an attempt to silence them.

Unionization is crucial as immigration judges face increased caseloads, political pressure and now, sudden terminations.

What’s Next?

• Congressional Action? With EOIR asking for more funding, Congress may have to step in and fix the judicial crisis.
• Legal Challenges? Federal employee unions may sue the administration, arguing these firings were political.
• Impact on Immigration Cases? Without more judges, immigration proceedings will get even slower, affecting thousands of asylum seekers and individuals facing deportation.
• No replacements have been announced yet but the DOJ will likely introduce new judges, shifting immigration policy further in line with Trump’s agenda.* Judicial ramp-up, as new judges will need time to get up to speed on cases and court processes.

Immigration Case Backlog Growth (2015-2025)

U.S. Immigration Judges Over Time

The U.S. immigration courts, under the Department of Justice’s Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR), handle a large number of immigration cases, mostly removal proceedings for foreign nationals accused of immigration violations by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Over the past few years, the caseload in immigration courts has grown exponentially, resulting in a massive backlog of pending cases.

FY2024 Highlights

• New Cases: EOIR received 1.8 million new cases in FY2024.
• Backlog Growth: Backlog 3.6 million by the end of FY2024.
• Asylum Applications: 850,720 defensive asylum applications filed, 1.5 million pending.
• Judicial Workforce: EOIR hired 437 new immigration judges (IJs) over the last five years, total of 735 IJs.
• Case Completions: 701,749 cases completed, a record for EOIR.

What are Removal Proceedings

Immigration courts primarily handle removal (deportation) proceedings. These include:

• Individuals without authorization: Those seeking entry without proper documentation or crossing the U.S. border illegally.
• Expedited Removal: Certain migrants, especially recent arrivals, can be removed without a formal hearing unless they claim asylum.
• Notice to Appear (NTA): The legal document initiating removal proceedings, issued by DHS and filed with EOIR.

Historical Case Receipts (1983-2024)

Since EOIR’s inception in 1983, immigration caseloads have generally gone up. The biggest increases occurred post-2019, especially in the last three years, due to:

• Southwest Border Encounters: A surge in migrant arrivals led to DHS filing nearly 1.8 million NTAs in FY2024 alone.
• Asylum Policy Changes: Asylum rule changes in mid-2024 reduced new cases in the last two quarters of the year.Graph: Annual Immigration Court Case Receipts (1983-2024)

Asylum Applications in Immigration Courts

Asylum seekers can apply for relief from removal through defensive asylum applications filed during court proceedings. Key stats:

• Applications Growth: Defensive asylum applications have grown annually since FY2018, 850,720 in FY2024.
• Pending Cases: 1,478,623 asylum applications pending as of FY2024.
• Affirmative vs. Defensive Cases: Applicants denied asylum by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) may be referred to EOIR for a second review.

Graph: Asylum Applications Filed and Pending (2015-2024)

Judicial Staffing and Courtroom Capacity

To address its backlog, EOIR has increased its workforce:

• Judicial Hiring: Immigration judge numbers have almost tripled in a decade, from 254 in 2015 to 735 in 2024.
• Courtrooms: Number of EOIR courtrooms grew from 336 in 2015 to 642 in 2024.
• Funding Limitations: EOIR says it is at funding capacity.

Graph: Immigration Judge Hiring and Staffing (2015-2024)

Case Completions vs. Backlog Growth

Despite hiring more judges, case completions haven’t kept up with new filings:

• FY2024 Completions: 701,749 cases completed, a record.
• Monthly Averages: 58,479 cases per month completed, 148,663 new cases filed per month.
• Pending Caseload: 3.56 million cases pending as of FY2024.

Graph: Case Completions vs. Pending Cases (2009-2024)

Policy Implications and Challenges

• Increased Enforcement: Tighter border policies have impacted caseloads and case processing times.
• Legal Representation Barriers: Many immigrants lack legal representation, contributing to delays.
• Technology & Efficiency: Digital case management and online hearings could speed up processing.
• Judicial Funding: More funding for judges and court infrastructure is needed to manage the backlog.February 2025: 20 Immigration Judges Fired. Here are the FAQs:

FAQS

1. What happened to the immigration judges in February 2025?

The Trump administration terminated 20 immigration judges, 13 of whom had not yet been sworn in and 5 assistant chief immigration judges. It was part of a broader effort to shrink the federal workforce. [1]

2. Why were the immigration judges fired?

The administration didn’t say. But it fits with President Trump’s goal of mass deportations and smaller government. [1]

3. How will this impact the backlog in immigration courts?

The courts already have 3.7 million backlogged cases. This will make it worse and prolong case closures. [1]

4. Will new judges be appointed to fill the vacancies?

Not clear. [1]

5. What do unions and legal experts say?

Unions and legal experts are criticizing the firings, saying it’s part of a broader attack on federal employees and will hurt the efficiency of the courts. [1]

6. How does this fit into the administration’s overall immigration policy?

Firing judges is part of the administration’s hardline immigration policy to speed up deportations and reduce undocumented immigrants. [1]

7. Were the fired judges appointed by previous administrations?

Some were appointed by the Biden administration, including Kerry E. Doyle who announced her firing publicly. [2]

8. What legal recourse do the fired judges have?The fired judges may sue, arguing their terminations were unlawful if due process was not followed. [1]

9. How does this affect people in immigration proceedings?

Those waiting for hearings will experience further delays as fewer judges means longer wait times. [1]

10. Is this part of a larger trend of federal employee terminations?

Yes, this is part of a pattern of the administration downsizing the federal workforce through mass layoffs and restructuring across various agencies. [2]

11. How has this affected the Department of Justice?

The sudden terminations have likely lowered morale among remaining staff and created an atmosphere of uncertainty and fear within the department. [1]

12. What are the long term implications?

Long term effects could be a strained immigration court system, increased backlogs and legal challenges that will impact the administration’s immigration policies. [1]

13. What do immigrant advocacy groups say?

Groups are denouncing the firings as undermining the fairness and efficiency of the immigration adjudication process. [1]

14. How can we address the backlog in the immigration courts?

Hire more judges and support staff, reform policies to streamline processes and fund the court system. [1]

15. How does this compare to previous administrations and immigration judges?

Previous administrations made changes to the immigration judiciary, but mass firings of judges without cause is unprecedented and a new policy. [1]

CLOSING THOUGHTS

Trump DOJ fires immigration judges: a new direction in immigration enforcement. While part of broader government downsizing, it raises concerns for court efficiency, backlog management and due process.

As scrutiny mounts, the future of the immigration courts is unclear. Will this lead to reforms or more chaos?

“There’s bipartisan support to hire more judges but this administration has increased the backlog by firing them.”

• EOIR Caseload Statistics – Official DOJ immigration court data.
• USCIS Asylum Information – Overview of asylum procedures and eligibility.
• Congressional Reports on Immigration – In-depth legislative analysis of immigration trends.
• DOJ Executive Office of Immigration Review (EOIR)American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA)
• National Association of Immigration Judges (NAIJ)
• Associated Press: Immigration Judge Terminations

• DOJ Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR)
• New York Times Immigration Poll
• NBC News Immigration Reports