The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has launched a high-profile hiring drive for immigration judges—branded in advertisements as “deportation judges”—as the Trump administration moves to reshape the immigration-court bench. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem promoted the vacancies on X, urging legal professionals to “define America for generations.”
The recruitment comes after months of attrition inside the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR). According to the National Association of Immigration Judges, at least 47 career judges have been removed or have resigned since January 2025, many in so-called sanctuary jurisdictions such as New York and San Francisco. Critics say the purge aims to accelerate removal orders at the expense of due-process safeguards.
![Justice Department Recruits ‘Deportation Judges’ Amid Immigration Court Shake-Up]()
For employers, a more aggressive bench could translate into faster adjudication of both removal and relief applications—good news for those seeking to resolve employee status quickly, but a risk if humanitarian defenses are curtailed. Counsel should monitor local court rosters: new appointees may apply narrower discretion on continuances and prosecutorial discretion.
The job postings list salaries up to $207,500 with locality pay and relocation bonuses, suggesting DOJ intends to fill roles rapidly. Whether the campaign further politicizes the immigration court—or alleviates its 2-million-case backlog—remains to be seen.
The recruitment comes after months of attrition inside the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR). According to the National Association of Immigration Judges, at least 47 career judges have been removed or have resigned since January 2025, many in so-called sanctuary jurisdictions such as New York and San Francisco. Critics say the purge aims to accelerate removal orders at the expense of due-process safeguards.
For employers, a more aggressive bench could translate into faster adjudication of both removal and relief applications—good news for those seeking to resolve employee status quickly, but a risk if humanitarian defenses are curtailed. Counsel should monitor local court rosters: new appointees may apply narrower discretion on continuances and prosecutorial discretion.
The job postings list salaries up to $207,500 with locality pay and relocation bonuses, suggesting DOJ intends to fill roles rapidly. Whether the campaign further politicizes the immigration court—or alleviates its 2-million-case backlog—remains to be seen.
