The U.S. Justice Department swore in a record group of immigration judges
The Donald Trump administration swore in 82 new immigration judges - 77 permanent and 5 temporary. The U.S. Justice Department called this the largest class of new judges in EOIR history, meaning the agency that manages the immigration courts.
According to the Justice Department, after these appointments, the total number of immigration judges is expected to approach 700. In fiscal year 2026, EOIR has already hired 153 permanent immigration judges - also a record for a single year.
The official goal is to speed up the review of cases in immigration courts. The Justice Department said that since January 20, 2025, EOIR has completed more than 1.08 million cases and reduced the number of pending cases from about 4 million to less than 3.53 million.
The appointments come after the dismissal of dozens of immigration judges over the past year. At the beginning of 2025, the system had more than 700 judges, but earlier this year the number had dropped below 600.
Many of the new judges previously worked as ICE attorneys, prosecutors, or in the military system.
Sources: DOJ / EOIR, CBS News.
Disclaimer: The information provided here is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Translations are provided for convenience and may contain errors or omissions. For guidance on your specific situation, always consult official sources or a qualified attorney.
