Archive · 22 Nov 2025
Trump Administration Hires 'Deportation Judges' to Speed Up Removals
The Trump administration is hiring new immigration judges, called 'deportation judges', to quickly decide if people who broke US laws can stay in the country.
They will make sure only fair cases are considered.
These judges will be paid well, and some will get extra money.
The government is doing this because they want to deport people faster, and some judges with different ideas were let go.
The government is also hiring military lawyers to help.
Trump administration hiring legal experts as immigration judges to address backlogs and expedite deportations
Judges to determine if non-citizens can stay in the US, focus on asylum seekers
Salaries ranging from $159,951 to $207,500, with cash incentives in certain cities
Vacancies due to Trump administration's purge of judges with differing philosophies
Hundreds of military lawyers recruited to fill vacancies
- Who
- The Trump administration, led by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem
- What
- Hiring legal experts as immigration judges to speed up deportations
- When
- Currently, with a push to address backlogs and expedite deportations
- Where
- Nationwide, with cash incentives in cities like New York, Boston, and San Francisco
- Why
- To enforce stricter immigration policies and address a backlogged court system
Pro-Immigration Advocates
Trump Administration
Purpose of Judges
Pro-Immigration Advocates
To fairly evaluate individual cases and consider humanitarian factors
Trump Administration
To expedite deportations and enforce stricter immigration policies
Job Title
Pro-Immigration Advocates
Immigration Judge
Trump Administration
Deportation Judge
Vacancies
Pro-Immigration Advocates
Result of political purges and voluntary departures
Trump Administration
Due to backlogged court system
- Job Title
- Immigration Judge (officially), Deportation Judge (informally)
- Focus of Cases
- Asylum seekers and other non-citizens facing deportation
- Vacancies
- Due to Trump administration's purge of judges and voluntary departures
- Recruitment
- Hundreds of military lawyers recruited to fill vacancies