DOJ Dismisses 8 Immigration Judges in NYC

The U.S. Department of Justice has dismissed eight immigration judges from a federal courthouse in New York City, further straining an already overburdened immigration court system as the Trump administration pursues accelerated deportations. The firings, which occurred on Monday, affected judges at 26 Federal Plaza in Lower Manhattan, a primary venue for immigration hearings and enforcement actions.

Among those terminated was Amiena A. Khan, the supervising assistant chief immigration judge at the facility, who oversaw other judges there. The National Association of Immigration Judges confirmed the dismissals, as did a Justice Department official speaking on condition of anonymity. No specific reasons were provided for the terminations, though they align with a nationwide pattern: approximately 90 immigration judges have been let go across the United States this year, out of a total workforce of around 600 to 700. Only about 36 of those positions have been filled, leaving courts short-staffed amid a backlog exceeding 3.7 million cases.

The dismissals come at a time when the administration is intensifying immigration enforcement. President Trump has pledged mass deportations,...