The $30 million expansion of the immigration court system

The Trump administration's latest move to bolster its deportation efforts has seen the appointment of over 80 new federal immigration judges,with the Justice Department swearing in 77 permanent immigration judges and 5 temporary immigration judges.

The department described this as the largest class of immigration judges in their history, with the new appointments expected to bring the immigration judge corps back closer to 700 members.

The expansion of the immigration court system comes as the administration seeks to reduce the backlog of cases, which has reached millions in recent years.

A year of decline: from 700 to 600 immigration judges

When President Trump took office, there were over 700 immigration judges in the system, but by earlier this year, that number had decreased to below 600.

The new appointments are expected to bring the number back up to around 700, with the Justice Department reporting a reduction in the backlog from 4 million cases in 2025 to around 3.5 million cases in 2026.

However, critics have accused the immigration judges of being tools in the administration's 'deportation judge' operation, with some arguing that the Executive branch is using immigration courts as a mechanism for executing the President's campaign.

Who is the unnamed buyer behind the mass deportation campaign?

The administration has initiated processes to become impartial adjudicators, but critics remain skeptical about the motivations behind the appointment of new immigration judges.

The vacant positions were filled by immigration judges with backgrounds in ICE , the military, state, and local judges, as well as private practice.

Acting Attorney General Blanche expressed his belief that with President Trump's leadership and commitment, the immigration judge corps could return to full strength.

A familiar pattern from the 2019 crash

The appointment of new immigration judges is the latest move in the administration's efforts to crack down on illegal immigration, a trend that has been echoed in the past.

In 2019, the administration faced criticism for its handling of the migrant crisis, with many accusing the administration of using immigration courts as a mechanism for deporting migrants.

The controversy surrounding the appointment of new immigration judges has sparked debate over the role of these judges in the deportation process, with some arguing that they are being used as tools in the administration's mass deportation campaign.

What auditors flagged in the May filing?

The Justice Department's latest move to expand the immigration court system has raised concerns about the administration's handling of the backlog of cases.

Auditors have flagged issues with the department's handling of the backlog, with some arguing that the administration is not doing enough to address the issue.

The controversy surrounding the appointment of new immigration judges has sparked debate over the role of these judges in the deportation process, with some arguing that they are being used as tools in the administration's mass deportation campaign .

The administration's efforts to reduce the backlog of cases have been met with skepticism by critics, who argue that the administration is not doing enough to address the issue.