8 sources·Politics

Trump Administration Ousts 20 Immigration Judges in Major Federal Workforce Cuts

The Trump administration has fired 20 immigration judges amid efforts to reduce the federal government, raising concerns over processing long-backlogged asylum cases.

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The move threatens to throw sand in the gears of an already strained immigration system as the Trump administration moves to rapidly reshape the federal workforce.
Justice Department fires multiple immigration judges amid case backlog
NBC News·1M
Reliable
This source consistently reports facts with minimal bias, demonstrating high-quality journalism and accuracy.
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Center
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The move comes after two other judges were dismissed this week, the AP reported.
Trump administration fires more than a dozen immigration judges
FOX News·1M
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Leans Right
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The firings touch on two top Trump priorities: mass deportations and shrinking the size of the federal government.
Trump administration fires 20 immigration judges with no explanation
The Guardian·1M
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Leans Left
This outlet slightly leans left.
The firings touch on two top Trump priorities: mass deportations and shrinking the size of the federal government.
Justice Department fires 20 immigration judges from backlogged courts amid major government cuts
ABC News·1M
Reliable
This source consistently reports facts with minimal bias, demonstrating high-quality journalism and accuracy.
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Center
This outlet is balanced or reflects centrist views.
The firings touch on two top Trump priorities: mass deportations and shrinking the size of the federal government.
Justice Department fires 20 immigration judges from backlogged courts amid major government cuts
Associated Press·1M
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Center
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The housecleaning matches one the Biden administration did when it took office in 2021, clearing out many Trump picks from the immigration courts.
Trump DOJ fires 20 Biden immigration judges
Washington Times·1M
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Leans Right
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Feb 16th, 2025, 3:05 AM ET

Summary

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In a controversial move amid significant federal workforce reductions, the Trump administration has fired 20 immigration judges, including 13 who had not yet been sworn in. This decision has drawn criticism from union officials and legal experts, who fear it will exacerbate the already significant backlog of over 3.7 million asylum cases in immigration courts. Matthew Biggs, head of the International Federation of Professional & Technical Engineers, condemned the firings as inhumane and indicative of a broader agenda prioritizing mass deportations. The Justice Department remains silent on potential replacements for the terminated judges, raising further concerns about the future of immigration jurisprudence.

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