DOJ Purge: 82 Immigration Judges Dismissed; Military Lawyers Tapped As Temporary Judges — Union, Ousted Judges To Speak Nov. 13

Press advisory: Three terminated immigration judges and the president of the judges’ union will speak at the National Press Club on Nov. 13 about a reported purge in the immigration courts. Since Jan. 20, 82 immigration judges have been dismissed amid heightened enforcement priorities, even as the backlog exceeds 3.4 million cases. Despite congressional authorization to hire up to 800 judges, the number of sitting judges has fallen to ~600, and DOJ/EOIR loosened rules to allow temporary judges without prior immigration-law experience, recruiting military attorneys for six-month terms now conducting hearings.