The Department of Justice (DOJ) hired forty-two new immigration judges to fill the void left by previously dismissed ones. The replacements all have backgrounds in immigration enforcement, not the judiciary. Such a move helps the judiciary align with the government’s stricter immigration goals.

Justification

The government explained removing and replacing dismissed judges is part of DHS operations. Immigration judges are traditionally considered inferior officers of the federal government, specifically the DOJ. They’re not considered members of the judiciary.

Importance

The DOJ announced sixty-six new immigration judges since October 2025. Additionally, the government’s hired several temporary new judges. At least one third of the new hires have a background in the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), per Reuters. This contrasts with most of the previous judges, who mainly had backgrounds in immigration or the judicial system before transferring to the DOJ.

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