The administration of President Donald Trump has announced the appointment of more than 80 new federal immigration judges as part of efforts to speed up deportation cases across the United States.
Eko Hot News reports that the U.S. Department of Justice confirmed that 77 permanent and five temporary immigration judges were officially sworn in this week.
The latest appointments represent the largest immigration judge class in the history of the Justice Department, according to U.S. officials.
The move forms part of the Trump administration’s broader immigration enforcement strategy aimed at strengthening border security and accelerating deportation processes.
Officials said the expansion is intended to reduce the growing backlog of immigration court cases, which has increased significantly in recent years.
The immigration court system has faced mounting pressure following a surge in asylum applications and migration challenges along the southern border.
According to the Justice Department, pending immigration cases have dropped from approximately four million to 3.5 million since January 2025.
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche described the recruitment as a major step toward restoring efficiency within the immigration system.
Blanche stated that the administration remains committed to strengthening immigration laws and securing the nation’s borders.
He credited President Trump’s leadership for driving the administration’s immigration agenda and policy direction.
The Trump administration has increasingly referred to immigration judges as “deportation judges” in some public job advertisements, a move that has generated criticism from legal and immigration advocacy groups.
Critics argue that the language suggests an attempt to politicize the immigration court system and weaken judicial neutrality.
Immigration judges operate under the Justice Department but are traditionally expected to function as impartial legal adjudicators.
The American Immigration Lawyers Association raised concerns over the administration’s approach to the court system.
Greg Greg Chen accused the administration of attempting to transform immigration judges into enforcement tools rather than neutral decision-makers.
He argued that the hiring expansion reflects the White House’s determination to aggressively pursue Trump’s mass deportation plans.
According to official biographies released by the Justice Department, many of the newly appointed judges previously worked as Immigration and Customs Enforcement attorneys, federal prosecutors, military officers and government lawyers.
Supporters of the administration say the appointments are necessary to improve case processing and restore confidence in immigration enforcement.
They also believe the increased number of judges will help speed up deportation proceedings and reduce delays in immigration courts.
The hiring announcement comes as the White House renews focus on immigration and border security ahead of the upcoming midterm elections.
Political analysts say immigration remains one of Trump’s strongest issues among conservative voters and supporters of the MAGA movement.
Some members of Trump’s political base have recently expressed frustration over delays in advancing key domestic policies.
The administration is now intensifying immigration enforcement efforts to reassure supporters and demonstrate progress on campaign promises.
Observers believe the expansion of the immigration court system could significantly shape immigration debates in the United States over the coming months.
The development is also expected to fuel continued legal and political discussions surrounding immigration reform, border control and judicial independence.
