Archive · 23 Jul 2026
UN Warns of US Immigration Judge Firing and Deportation Push
The United Nations is worried about the firing of over 100 immigration judges in the US and the push to make deportation cases go faster.
They think this could make it harder for immigrants to get a fair chance to defend themselves.
The UN says that international law requires these cases to be decided by independent judges.
The Trump administration wants to speed up the process to make the immigration system more efficient.
A former Chicago immigration judge says that the remaining judges are under pressure to move cases quickly, which could mean less time for people to argue their cases.
The UN is also concerned about the large number of cases each judge has to handle, which could make it hard for them to give each case the attention it needs.
The UN has raised concerns about the independence of immigration judges in the US.
Over 100 immigration judges have been fired since the start of Trump’s second term.
The remaining judges have been instructed to speed up deportation cases.
The UN warns that these changes could threaten judicial independence and due process.
The Trump administration aims to streamline the immigration system and expedite deportations.
- Who
- The United Nations, immigration judges, and the Trump administration
- What
- Firing of immigration judges and push for faster deportations
- When
- Since the start of Trump’s second term
- Where
- Across the United States, including Chicago
- Why
- To streamline the immigration system and expedite deportations, according to the administration; to threaten judicial independence and due process, according to the UN
UN and Advocates
Trump Administration
Independence of Immigration Judges
UN and Advocates
The UN and advocates argue that the firing of immigration judges and the push for faster deportations threaten judicial independence and due process.
Trump Administration
The Trump administration maintains that these measures are necessary to streamline the immigration system and expedite deportations.
Due Process and Fair Trials
UN and Advocates
The UN expresses concern that the heavy workload and pressure on judges could compromise the fairness of immigration cases.
Trump Administration
The administration believes that speeding up the process is essential to maintain the efficiency of the immigration system.
- Number of Judges Fired
- More than 100
- UN Special Rapporteur
- Margaret Satterthwaite
- Former Chicago Immigration Judge
- Carla Espinoza
- Deportations Since October
- More than 350,000
- Cases per Judge
- More than 100 or 200 in a few hours