The Justice Department is actively working to remove immigration judges who are perceived as slow or not adhering to legal standards, acting Attorney General Todd Blanche announced on Wednesday. This initiative aligns with the Trump administration's broader efforts to overhaul the immigration court system and address a massive backlog of 3.7 million cases, thereby facilitating its mass deportation agenda.
Blanche's Remarks at Border Security Expo
Speaking in Phoenix at the Border Security Expo, an annual event gathering top immigration officials, law enforcement, and federal contractors, Blanche emphasized the administration's focus on immigration enforcement. His appearance underscored the priority placed on border security and immigration control across the government.
Blanche, who assumed the role after Pam Bondi's departure last month, provided detailed insights into the changes underway in immigration courts. He stated, "You take an oath and you're not allowed to make decisions based upon what appear to be just sympathy or your whim." He added, "If there are judges that are just not applying the law in the way that it needs to be applied, delaying inappropriately, have backlogs that are just unacceptable, they're the folks that we're going to try to find somebody different to fill that spot."
Mass Deportation as a Central Priority
The second Trump administration has made mass deportations a key objective, launching a comprehensive government-wide effort to achieve ambitious targets. Measures include cracking down on migrants in urban areas, expanding detention facilities, and hiring more immigration officers. While the Department of Homeland Security leads deportation operations, immigration courts fall under the Justice Department's purview.
Controversial Changes to Immigration Courts
Dozens of immigration judges have been removed during Trump's second term, with critics alleging they were targeted for approving too many asylum cases. The administration has also directed masked officers to handcuff migrants at closed hearings and issued memos instructing judges to comply with stricter policies. Many migrants and advocates report that courts have become traps, where routine appearances lead to arrest.
Unlike federal courts with lifetime tenure and strict procedures, immigration courts are run by the Justice Department, and the attorney general can fire judges with fewer constraints. Critics argue this undermines due process. The American Immigration Lawyers Association stated, "Unfortunately, the Trump Administration is systematically dismantling due process protections in U.S. immigration courts, prioritizing speed and enforcement over fairness, accuracy, and fundamental justice."
Narrowing Asylum Pathways and Hiring Practices
Critics also point to decisions by the Board of Immigration Appeals that have restricted asylum access under Trump. Blanche dismissed these concerns, asserting that rulings are consistent with the law. He acknowledged issues with judges delaying cases or acting out of sympathy.
With increased funding from Congress, the department is rapidly hiring new immigration judges, sparking criticism about standards. Blanche defended the process: "We have a very rigorous process to get people interviewed, approved, and then trained up. And then we'll watch them."
Denaturalization Efforts Intensified
Blanche also highlighted intensified efforts to strip citizenship from those who allegedly defrauded the system, a process known as denaturalization, which historically saw only about a dozen cases per year between 1990 and 2017. "That's one of the tools that we are using aggressively that hasn't been used as aggressively in the past," he said, without providing specific numbers.
