More Immigration Judges Fired as Legal Groups Push for Independent System

Dismissals continue as judges and lawyers call for a more autonomous immigration court to protect due process.

Apr. 15, 2026 at 5:03am

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A quiet, cinematic painting of an empty courtroom with warm, diagonal sunlight and deep shadows, conveying a sense of melancholy and the erosion of justice.As the Trump administration continues to dismiss immigration judges, the erosion of due process and the integrity of the immigration system is laid bare in the empty, abandoned halls of justice.NYC Today

The Trump administration has fired six more immigration judges, adding to over 100 dismissals in the past year. This has led to a significant reduction in the number of immigration judges, with some courts losing more than half their judges. Legal groups like the American Immigration Lawyers Association are pushing for legislation to transition the immigration system into an independent judiciary, arguing that judges currently face pressure to decide cases based on the administration's policies rather than the law.

Why it matters

The firings are part of the current administration's broader immigration enforcement agenda, which has included expansive use of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and detention centers. Critics say this is eroding the principle of due process and undermining the integrity of the immigration court system.

The details

The newly fired judges are now among over 100 fired so far in Donald Trump's second term. The number of US immigration judges has reportedly diminished by about a quarter in the last year. Twelve courts have lost more than half their judges, while many have 'skeleton crews,' and two courts have no judges at all.

  • The Trump administration fired six more immigration judges on Friday, April 11, 2026.
  • Carmen Maria Rey Caldas, a New York immigration judge, was fired in August.

The players

Carmen Maria Rey Caldas

A New York immigration judge who was fired in August.

Benjamin Johnson

The Executive Director of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA).

The Trump administration

The current presidential administration that has overseen the firing of over 100 immigration judges in the past year.

The American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA)

A legal group that has expressed support for legislation to transition the immigration system into an independent judiciary.

The Real Courts, Rule of Law Act of 2026

Proposed legislation that would create an independent immigration court system.

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What they’re saying

“The concept of procedural due process, the idea that you get to have a hearing in the United States…is a bedrock principle of law… Despite that, the Trump administration has done its utmost to erode that principle by firing judges that it perceived has being opposed to the administration's stated goal to deport as many people as possible with the least amount of due process available.”

— Carmen Maria Rey Caldas, New York immigration judge

“Every day, AILA attorneys across the country see how our immigration courts are being pushed further away from what a court of law should be… Judges should never feel compelled to deport, detain, or dismiss cases in ways that contradict the law, nor should they fear retaliation for refusing to follow a political agenda. Creating an independent immigration court is a critical first step to protecting due process, restoring integrity, and ensuring decisions worthy of the public's trust.”

— Benjamin Johnson, Executive Director, American Immigration Lawyers Association

What’s next

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The takeaway

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