Trump Moves to Reshape Immigration Courts
Immigration Judges Dismissed Under Trump
A major shake-up has hit U.S. immigration courts as the Trump administration dismissed about fifty judges through a short email notice.
The move reflects Trump’s vow to “end the judicial swamp”
and reshape immigration enforcement amid a record backlog of over three million cases.
Who Was Removed
Judges say they were blindsided.
“I had no disciplinary record, my reviews were strong, and I loved my work,” said Judge Jennifer Peyton, an Obama appointee.
Another dismissed judge, Carla Espinoza, alleged discrimination after her contract was not renewed.
Criticism and Pushback
Sen. Dick Durbin called the mass firings an “abuse of power,”
while the immigration judges’ union warned it threatens judicial independence.
“The rest feel threatened,” union president Matt Biggs said.
Administration’s Defense
Officials argue immigration judges fall under the executive branch.
Trump declared: “We are cleaning up the judicial swamp… Not anymore.”
