Trump Administration Reshapes Immigration Courts, Fires Dozens of Judges

Mass deportation efforts target liberal-leaning immigration judges and courts

Apr. 20, 2026 at 9:11am by

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A dimly lit, cinematic painting of an empty courtroom with wooden benches and a judge's podium, the room bathed in warm, golden light streaming in through tall windows, conceptually representing the changing landscape of the immigration court system.As the Trump administration reshapes the nation's immigration courts, the future of due process for asylum-seekers remains uncertain.San Francisco Today

The Trump administration has been aggressively reshaping the nation's immigration court system, firing more than 100 judges over the past year and replacing them with temporary judges beholden to the executive branch. This has led to chaos in courts like San Francisco, where hundreds of immigrants have been deported in absentia due to shifting hearing schedules. The administration claims the immigration judges have political biases in favor of migrants, but critics argue the system is being politicized and immigrants' due process rights are being undermined.

Why it matters

Immigration judges play a crucial role in determining who can stay in the U.S. and who must be deported. By targeting liberal-leaning judges and courts, the Trump administration is making it harder for asylum-seekers and other immigrants to receive fair hearings and access legal protections. This raises concerns about the independence of the immigration court system and the ability of immigrants to receive due process.

The details

The Department of Justice, which runs the immigration court system, has fired more than 100 judges over the past year, with another 50 to 60 either dismissed or departed. The administration is replacing these judges with temporary judges who are only in place for six months at a time and are essentially beholden to the executive branch. This has led to chaos in courts like San Francisco, where hundreds of immigrants have been deported in absentia because they didn't know when their hearings were scheduled after judges were fired or transferred. The administration claims the targeted judges have political biases in favor of migrants, but critics argue the system is being politicized and immigrants' due process rights are being undermined.

  • In May 2026, the San Francisco Immigration Court, which has one of the highest asylum caseloads in the nation, is set to close.
  • Over the past year, the Department of Justice has fired more than 100 immigration judges.

The players

Jeremiah Johnson

A former immigration judge in San Francisco who had an asylum grant rate above 90% before being fired by the Trump administration. He is now traveling through the migrant trail at the US-Mexico border into Guatemala.

Stephen Miller

Homeland Security Deputy Advisor to President Trump, who has said there are immigration judges with political bias in favor of migrants and against the Department of Homeland Security.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, Grocery employee

What’s next

The Supreme Court is set to hear cases in the coming months that could further limit asylum access at the border, building on the Trump administration's efforts to reshape the immigration court system.

The takeaway

The Trump administration's aggressive targeting of liberal-leaning immigration judges and courts raises serious concerns about the independence and fairness of the immigration court system. As the backlog of asylum cases grows, immigrants' due process rights are being undermined, with hundreds already deported in absentia due to the upheaval.