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Original Date Announced
February 15, 2025Politico reports that the Trump administration fired 20 immigration judges without explanation, despite immigration courts being backlogged with more than 3.7 million cases. Of the fired judges, 5 were assistant chief immigration judges, and at least 13 had not yet been sworn in yet. All were Biden appointees. Kerry Doyle, one of the judges who was dismissed on Friday, February 14, said that EOIR Acting Director sent her an email announcing her termination.
Trump 2.0 [ID #1541]
2025.02.15 Reported: Trump admin fires new immigration judges - Politico 2025.02.15 Reported: Justice Department fires 20 immigration judges - The HillEffective Date
February 14, 2025Subsequent Trump and Court Action
April 22, 20252025.04.22 Reported: Trump fires more immigration judges even as he aims to increase deportations - NPR
NPR reports that at least eight immigration judges received notices that they would be put on leave and that their employment would be terminated on April 22. The judges were at the end of their two-year probationary period with EOIR, and were not given a reason for the terminations.
View DocumentSubsequent Trump and Court Action
July 15, 20252025.07.15 Reported: More immigration judges are being fired amid Trump's efforts to speed up deportations - NPR
NPR reports that the Department of Justice has informed another round of immigration judges that “they are being let go, adding to the growing list of immigration court personnel cut by President Trump.” In this latest round, the Department of Justice informed fifteen immigration judges on Friday, July 11, that “they would be put on leave and that their employment would terminate on July 22.” NPR reports that these judges “were at the end of their two-year probationary period with [EOIR],” and were not given a reason for their termination.
View DocumentSubsequent Trump and Court Action
September 23, 20252025.09.23 Reported: Trump administration fires more immigration judges - NPR
NPR reports that the Trump administration has dismissed or is poised to dismiss scores of immigration judges across the United States. Nineteen immigration judges were fired this month, adding to the over 80 judges that have already been removed by the administration so far this year. NPR states that the firings in September constitute the largest terminations in any month since February. Critics warn that the purge threatens due process, risks politicizing the immigration adjudication system, and will exacerbate the already massive backlog in immigration courts.
View DocumentCurrent Status
NoneOriginal Trump Policy Status
Status: Final/ActualTrump Administration Action: Agency DirectiveSubject Matter: Hearings and Adjudications Immigrant Visas HumanitarianAgencies Affected: EOIRAssociated or Derivative Policies
- January 20, 2025 Reported: DOJ Fires EOIR Career Leadership
Documents
Trump-Era Policy Documents
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Commentary
Original Source:
Letter from House and Senate Democrats to Attorney General
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Commentary
Original Source:
2025.07.03 Letter from Senators Warren and Markey
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Commentary
2025.03.28 Letter from House and Senate Democrats to Attorney General re: IJ Firings
66 House and Senate Democrats sent a letter to Attorney General Bondi to express their concerns regarding EOIR's firings of immigration judges and indications of plans to fire even more. The letter highlights the resource gaps left by the firings, the lack of notice and justification provided, and how the firings further stress the immigration courts.
Go to article2025.07.03 Letter from Senators Warren and Markey re: IJ Firings
Massachusetts Senators Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey sent a letter to the EOIR Acting Director about the immigration court layoffs in April. The letter expresses concern that EOIR acting for "politically motivated reasons," noting that while “those who had backgrounds working in immigration enforcement were converted [to permanent positions], . . . those who previously worked in other parts of government, nonprofits, or private practice were not.”
Go to article2025.10.23 New Yorker - Inside Donald Trump's Attack on Immigration Courts
Reporting by the New Yorker illustrates how DHS and EOIR have implemented a series of coordinated measures to accelerate deportations and restructure immigration court operations. DHS has initiated a nationwide strategy of arresting noncitizens appearing for court hearings and filing motions to dismiss their pending asylum cases, effectively rerouting these individuals into "expedited removal" proceedings. Concurrently, EOIR has terminated hundreds of immigration judges. These operational changes are accompanied by new procedural directives and binding legal rulings that restrict relief for asylum seekers.
Go to article2025.10.31 Law360 - Judges See An Immigration Court Gutted From Inside
Law360 reports on former IJs' experience of EOIR under the Trump administration. The former IJs describe broad staffing cuts, pressure to rule against immigrants, leadership instability, and a backlog surge that undermined court functioning. They note that EOIR cannot deliver timely, fair hearings for detained immigrants and warn that unless the agency is stabilized with adequate staffing and clear leadership, the damage to the system may be long‐term and hard to reverse.
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