DOJ Immigration Courts Accelerate Hearings with Mass 'Mega Masters'
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The Department of Justice (DOJ) is accelerating deportation hearings by scheduling massive 'mega master' hearings for over 100 immigrants at once, targeting those whose original hearings were years away. Immigration attorneys report the practice targets unrepresented individuals and has begun in several courts, with Dallas next to start. The Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) has onboarded its largest-ever class of new judges while continuing to fire others.
Facts First
- DOJ immigration courts are scheduling 'mega master' hearings for 100+ people at once, compared to previous groups of two or three dozen.
- These hearings target individuals whose original hearings were scheduled for 2027, 2028, or 2029.
- Attorneys state the practice primarily targets individuals without legal representation and that late or absent arrivals receive removal orders.
- The EOIR onboarded 77 new immigration judges and 5 temporary military lawyers last week, reporting 153 hires this fiscal year.
- The agency lost about one-quarter of its judges last year and fired several more, including in New York and California, on the same day it onboarded new judges.
What Happened
The Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) is accelerating deportation hearings through new tactics shared by the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA). Courts are grouping immigrants into 'mega master' hearings of 100 or more people at a time, targeting individuals whose original hearings were scheduled for 2027, 2028, or 2029. The practice has begun in Chicago, Boston, and Chelmsford, Mass., courts and is scheduled to begin in Dallas. On the same day last week that the EOIR onboarded 77 new immigration judges and 5 temporary military lawyers, the agency fired several more judges, including in New York and California. The EOIR lost approximately one-quarter of its immigration judges last year.
Why this Matters to You
If you or someone you know is navigating the immigration system, your hearing date could be moved years earlier with little notice, according to attorneys. You may be scheduled into a massive group hearing where, if you arrive late or do not appear, you could receive a removal order. These hearings appear to primarily target individuals without legal representation. The government's focus on expediting cases for specific nationalities and juveniles may affect which communities face accelerated proceedings.
What's Next
The 'mega master' practice is likely to expand, with the Dallas Immigration Court scheduled to begin using it. The EOIR's rapid hiring of new judges could lead to more hearings being scheduled, while the continued firing of judges, particularly those with experience representing immigrants, may change the composition of the courts. The administration's goal to increase deportations may drive further procedural changes to address court backlogs.