Trump administration fires 20 Biden-appointed immigration judges in final days, mirroring Biden’s 2021 move.
Quick Takes
- 20 “midnight” immigration judges appointed by Biden removed by Trump administration
- 13 judges hired in late December and early January dismissed
- 7 assistant chief immigration judges also removed
- Action mirrors Biden’s 2021 removal of Trump-appointed judges
- Kerry Doyle, former ICE critic and principal legal adviser, among those fired
Trump Administration Reverses Biden’s Immigration Judge Appointments
In a stark reversal of immigration policy, the Trump administration has removed 20 immigration judges appointed during the final days of Biden’s tenure. This action, reminiscent of Biden’s own moves in 2021, underscores the ongoing political tug-of-war in America’s immigration system. The dismissals included 13 judges hired in late December and early January, as well as seven assistant chief immigration judges.
Trump DOJ fires 20 Biden immigration judgeshttps://t.co/Yf4c4tGlWk pic.twitter.com/lTVEQuYz1L
— The Washington Times (@WashTimes) February 17, 2025
The Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR), traditionally considered apolitical, has become a battleground for competing immigration ideologies. By 2023, the Biden administration had replaced six of the ten senior executive positions at EOIR, signaling a shift in the agency’s direction. Now, the Trump Justice Department views its recent actions as consistent with the precedent set by the Biden administration.
High-Profile Dismissals and Attempted Conversions
Among those fired was Kerry Doyle, a former critic of ICE who had been appointed as the agency’s principal legal adviser. The Biden administration had attempted to convert Doyle’s position from a political appointee to a regular civil service role, a move that has now been thwarted. This highlights the delicate balance between political appointments and career civil service positions in key immigration roles.
“The Biden administration set a precedent by terminating numerous immigration judges during their term or trial periods for the first time in EOIR history. So, it’s not surprising that EOIR is following that precedent” stating one senior department official. The ousted judges had not yet undergone training or heard cases, which may lessen the immediate impact on immigration court proceedings. However, the removals followed a broader shake-up of Biden-installed leadership at EOIR, including the acting director, chief immigration judge, general counsel, and head of policy.
Implications for the Immigration Court System
These dismissals raise questions about the stability and impartiality of the immigration court system. Immigration judges, unlike their counterparts in the regular court system, are employees of EOIR and thus more susceptible to political influence. This latest round of removals, coupled with the more than 10 Trump-era immigration judges terminated or resigned at the end of their probationary period under Biden, demonstrates the vulnerability of these positions to changes in administration.
The back-and-forth nature of these appointments and dismissals threatens to undermine public confidence in the immigration judiciary. It also highlights the need for a more robust and independent system for appointing and retaining immigration judges, one that can withstand the political winds of changing administrations while maintaining the integrity and efficiency of the immigration court process.
As the nation grapples with ongoing immigration challenges, the politicization of the EOIR serves as a reminder of the deep divisions in immigration policy and the far-reaching consequences of electoral shifts. The American public, particularly those directly affected by immigration decisions, may find themselves caught in the crossfire of these political maneuvers, potentially facing delays and uncertainty in their cases as the immigration court system adjusts to yet another upheaval.
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Trump DOJ fires 20 Biden immigration judges
