Trump Administration Onboards Largest-Ever Class of New Immigration Judges in Bid to Speed Up Deportation Cases

The Trump administration this week onboarded more than 80 new federal immigration judges, in its latest push to expedite deportation cases and further its government-wide crackdown on illegal immigration, Justice Department officials said Thursday.

The Justice Department, which oversees the U.S. immigration court system, swore in 77 permanent immigration judges and 5 temporary immigration judges, a group that officials described as the largest class of immigration judges in the department’s history.

The additions come after the ouster of dozens of immigration judges across the country by the Trump administration over the past year. When President Trump took office, the Justice Department had more than 700 immigration judges. By earlier this year, that number had dipped below 600. Justice Department officials said the new class would bring the immigration judge corps back closer to 700 members.

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That overhaul has included a purge of more than 100 immigration judges, including many appointed under the Biden administration. Some of the judges ousted under the Trump administration have said they believe they were fired over not sufficiently pushing deportations or having backgrounds helping or advocating for immigrants.

Over the past year, the Justice Department has also issued directives and precedent-setting orders sharply restricting when immigration judges can grant asylum or other forms of relief to those facing deportation, and when they can release those in ICE detention on bond.

The new class of immigration judges was sworn in on Wednesday in Washington, D.C., Justice Department officials said.

Most of the immigration judges joining the Justice Department’s ranks this week had previously worked as ICE lawyers, prosecutors or in the military, as officers, judge advocates or other roles, according to bios provided by the department. Some worked as state or local judges, or as lawyers in private practice.

Justice Department officials said the administration has hired 153 permanent immigration judges in fiscal year 2026, which began in October 2025.

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