Trump government dismisses new immigration judges without notice, says Federation

Thirteen judges who had not yet been sworn in and five immigration assistant chief judges were dismissed without notice on the government of Donald Trump, Matthew Biggs, president of the International Federation of Professional and Technicians, representing federal workers. Two other judges were fired in similar circumstances last week.

It was unclear if they would be replaced. The US Department of Justice Immigration Executive Office, which manages the courts and supervises its approximately 700 judges, did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Saturday.

Immigration courts are overwhelmed with more than 3.7 million cases, according to the Syracuse University’s Transactional Records Access Cousss Clearinghouse, and it takes years to decide asylum cases.

There is support throughout the political spectrum for more judges and support team, although the first Trump government also pressured some judges to decide cases faster.

The Trump government has already replaced five high court officials, including Mary Cheng, the agency’s interim director. Sirce Owen, the current leader and previously an appeal immigration judge, issued a series of new instructions, many reversing Joe Biden government policies.