If you’ve been keeping an eye on the news lately, the headlines are a bit of a mess. One day it’s a trade deal, the next it’s a massive shakeup in the federal workforce. But honestly, the biggest story that isn't getting nearly enough nuance is what’s happening in our basement-level courtrooms. Specifically, the fact that the Trump administration fires more immigration judges than we’ve seen in decades.
It’s a weird situation. On one hand, you have a backlog of cases that’s basically a mountain at this point—nearly 4 million pending cases. You’d think they’d want more hands on deck, right? Instead, the Department of Justice (DOJ) is handing out pink slips like they're flyers.
The Numbers That Actually Matter
Let’s look at the data because the sheer scale is kind of wild. Since the start of 2025, nearly 100 immigration judges have been let go or pushed out. Just a few days ago, on January 10, 2026, reports surfaced that the San Francisco Immigration Court is essentially being gutted. It used to be a hub. Now? It has about five judges left, including the supervisor.
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The DOJ says it's about "efficiency" and "cost-effectiveness." They even decided not to renew the lease on the San Francisco building, telling everyone to pack up and move to Concord by next year. But for the 120,000 people with cases in that specific court, it feels less like efficiency and more like a wrecking ball.
Why Is This Happening Now?
The "why" is where things get spicy. Most of these judges were in their two-year probationary period. That’s the "safety zone" for the government—they can fire you without much of a reason. But here’s the kicker: some of these people were tenured. We’re talking about judges with years of experience being told their services are no longer needed.
- The "Deportation Judge" Rebrand: The DOJ has actually started using the term "deportation judges" in some of its hiring materials. That’s a massive shift in tone.
- Military Lawyers: There’s a new plan to bring in military lawyers to act as temporary judges.
- The "Fork in the Road": Early on, many judges were given a choice—retire now with benefits or stay and face the new "streamlined" quotas. Many chose the exit.
The Trump Administration Fires More Immigration Judges: The Real Impact on Due Process
When we talk about the Trump administration fires more immigration judges, we aren't just talking about HR paperwork. We're talking about the "merits" of a case. If you're a judge and you're told to "efficiently manage your docket," what that usually means is "stop spending so much time on each person."
Acting Director Sirce Owen sent out a memo not long ago that basically encouraged judges to dump "legally deficient" asylum cases without even holding a hearing. If you're an asylum seeker who doesn't speak English and you're filling out a 15-page legal form without a lawyer, your case might look "deficient" on paper even if your life is literally at stake.
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The San Francisco Shakedown
San Francisco is the poster child for this restructuring. In 2025 alone, 12 judges were fired from that single location. Imagine a grocery store firing 75% of its cashiers while the line stretches around the block. That’s the immigration court system right now.
Judge Edwin Pieters is one of the names that's been floating around. He was let go despite having "satisfactory" reviews. Then there’s Amiena Khan in New York, a high-ranking assistant chief immigration judge who was suddenly ousted. These aren't low-level clerks; these are the people who keep the gears turning.
Is This Legal?
Well, it's complicated. The International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers (the union for these judges) is screaming "abuse of power." They even filed a class-action appeal for 13 judges who claim they were wrongfully terminated.
Senator Dick Durbin got involved, too. He claimed one judge in Chicago was fired just because she showed him around the court and explained how things worked. The DOJ told her all communication with Congress had to go through headquarters. Shortly after, she was gone.
The Backlog Paradox
Here’s what most people get wrong: they think firing "slow" judges will speed things up. It’s actually the opposite.
When a judge is fired, their thousands of cases don't just vanish. They get reassigned. But the new judge has to start from scratch. They have to read the files, hear the testimony (again), and make a call. Some cases are now being pushed back to 2030.
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If the goal is to deport people faster, firing the people who sign the deportation orders is a weird way to go about it. Unless, of course, the goal is to replace them with people who will sign those orders without asking too many questions.
What Happens Next for the Courts?
We’re likely going to see a "militarized" version of the court system. With more military lawyers stepping in as temporary judges, the focus is shifting from "is this person eligible for a visa?" to "how fast can we process this removal?"
Practical Steps if You Have a Pending Case:
- Check Your Venue: If you were assigned to the San Francisco court, your case is likely moving to Concord. Don't show up at a closed building.
- Update Your Address: This is the #1 reason people get ordered deported in absentia. If the court moves and your mail goes to the wrong place, you’re in trouble.
- Get a Private Lawyer if Possible: Since the government isn't required to provide you with one, and the judges are under pressure to "streamline," you need someone who knows the rules to push back.
- Prepare for Delays: Don't expect a resolution this year. Or next year.
The reality is that the immigration court system is being rebuilt from the ground up. Whether you think that's a good thing or a total disaster depends on your politics, but for the people inside the system, it’s mostly just chaos. The administration says they're "restoring values," while the judges' union says they're "attacking the rule of law." Somewhere in the middle are millions of files sitting on empty desks in Aurora, Colorado, and Oakdale, Louisiana—courts that now have no judges at all.
Stay updated on your specific court's status through the EOIR's official automated phone system, as local office emails are becoming increasingly unreliable during this transition. If your hearing notice looks different or comes from a different city, contact a legal representative immediately to verify the change.