Justice Department Targets Immigration Judges Amid Backlog Crisis
Phoenix — Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche announced Wednesday that the Justice Department is initiating a review of immigration judges accused of issuing slow rulings or failing to adhere to legal standards. This initiative is part of the Trump administration’s broader strategy to reform immigration courts and address a staggering backlog of 3.7 million cases, aiding its goal of mass deportations.
Blanche made these remarks while attending the Border Security Expo in Phoenix, an annual event that gathers leading immigration officials, local law enforcement, and representatives from businesses collaborating with the federal government. His presence underscores the administration’s commitment to prioritizing immigration enforcement and border security.
Since taking over leadership of the Justice Department following Pam Bondi’s dismissal last month, Blanche’s comments represent some of the most detailed insights into proposed changes in the immigration court system.
He emphasized that judges, bound by their oaths, must make decisions based on law rather than personal sympathies. Blanche stated, “If judges are not applying the law appropriately, resulting in unnecessary delays and unacceptable backlog, we will seek replacements for those positions.”
The second Trump administration has placed enormous emphasis on mass deportation, instituting a comprehensive government approach to realize this goal, which includes stricter enforcement measures in American cities, expansions of detention facilities, and increased hiring of immigration agents.
While the Department of Homeland Security holds primary responsibility for executing Trump’s mass deportation strategy, immigration courts, a critical component of the immigration framework, fall under the purview of the Justice Department. During Trump’s second term, many immigration judges were removed for approving a high number of asylum applications. Critics allege these judges were targeted, and instances of undercover officers handcuffing immigrants during closed-door hearings have raised concerns. Advocacy groups warn that immigration courts are increasingly becoming a precarious environment for attendees, often leading to arrests even with the appearance for a standard hearing.
Unlike federal courts, where judges are appointed for life and must adhere to stringent procedural rules, immigration courts are governed by the Justice Department, giving the attorney general significant control over judge appointments and removals. This control has raised alarms among critics, who argue that the administration’s tactics undermine judicial independence.
In a policy brief last fall, the American Immigration Lawyers Association condemned the Trump administration’s systematic erosion of due process protections within immigration courts, characterizing the shift as prioritizing speed and enforcement over fairness and justice.
Blanche dismissed these criticisms, asserting that the actions taken were lawful and necessary. He further criticized judges who delay trials out of sympathy for individuals, claiming they undermine the overall legal process. In response to the situation, backed by federal funding approved last summer, the Justice Department is rapidly expanding its pool of immigration judges. However, this swift hiring has raised questions about whether incoming judges will maintain necessary legal standards.
“We have a rigorous process for interviewing, approving, and training new judges,” Blanche stated, expressing confidence in the capabilities of recent hires. Moreover, he mentioned the Justice Department’s increased efforts to revoke citizenship from individuals accused of abusing the system, a process termed “denaturalization,” which had been rarely utilized in previous administrations.
Blanche noted, “This is a tool we are actively employing that has not been widely used in the past,” though he refrained from sharing specific figures regarding the ongoing efforts.
