Trump Administration Adds Largest Class of Immigration Judges Ever as DOJ Seeks to Reduce Court Backlog

The Trump administration has announced what the U.S. Department of Justice describes as the largest expansion of the immigration judge corps in the history of the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR). The move is part of a broader effort to reduce the nation’s massive immigration court backlog, speed up case processing, and support the administration’s aggressive immigration enforcement agenda.

According to the Justice Department, 77 new immigration judges and five temporary immigration judges were sworn in during an investiture ceremony held at the Department of Justice’s Great Hall in Washington, D.C., on May 20, 2026. The ceremony marked the largest single class of immigration adjudicators ever appointed by the agency.

The announcement comes as the administration continues to prioritize border security, increased deportation efforts, and reforms aimed at improving the efficiency of the immigration court system.

A Historic Hiring Milestone

The Executive Office for Immigration Review announced that the addition of the new judges increases the total number of immigration judges nationwide to nearly 700, representing the largest judicial workforce in the agency’s history.

EOIR also reported another milestone: 153 permanent immigration judges have been hired during fiscal year 2026, the highest annual hiring total ever recorded by the agency.

Justice Department officials said the expansion reflects the administration’s commitment to strengthening the immigration court system while addressing one of its greatest challenges—a backlog that has grown over many years.

Why More Immigration Judges Are Being Added

Immigration judges play a central role in deciding cases involving individuals facing removal proceedings, asylum applications, bond hearings, and other immigration-related matters.

Unlike federal judges appointed under Article III of the Constitution, immigration judges are employees of the Department of Justice and serve within the Executive Office for Immigration Review.

As immigration enforcement has increased in recent years, the number of pending immigration cases has also grown significantly, placing tremendous pressure on courts across the country.

Justice Department officials say expanding the number of judges will help ensure that cases are heard more quickly while reducing lengthy delays that have affected both immigrants and government agencies.

Addressing the Immigration Court Backlog

Reducing the immigration court backlog has become one of the administration’s highest priorities.

According to EOIR, since January 20, 2025, immigration courts have completed more than 1.08 million cases, reducing the pending caseload by over 447,000 cases. Officials said the backlog has declined from approximately 4 million pending cases to fewer than 3.53 million, describing it as the sharpest reduction in the agency’s history.

Even with that progress, millions of immigration cases remain pending nationwide, illustrating the scale of the challenge facing the court system.

Supporters of the expansion argue that additional judges are essential if immigration cases are to be resolved more efficiently while maintaining due process.

Administration’s Position

During the announcement, Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said the administration is committed to rebuilding an immigration judge corps focused on enforcing federal immigration law.

According to the Justice Department, the new appointments reflect President Donald Trump’s emphasis on strengthening border security and improving the effectiveness of immigration courts.

Officials also stated that all newly appointed immigration judges undergo the same standardized training program before beginning their judicial duties.

The department said candidates were selected through a competitive hiring process and will serve in immigration courts across the United States.

Temporary Immigration Judges

In addition to the 77 permanent judges, the administration appointed five temporary immigration judges.

Temporary immigration judges assist with managing heavy caseloads and may be assigned to courts experiencing significant backlogs or increased enforcement activity.

The Justice Department has also previously announced plans allowing additional temporary adjudicators, including certain military attorneys, to assist immigration courts under limited assignments designed to address staffing shortages.

Supporters Say Faster Courts Benefit Everyone

Supporters of the hiring initiative argue that lengthy delays create uncertainty for everyone involved in the immigration system.

Individuals seeking asylum often wait years for hearings.

Families involved in immigration proceedings face prolonged uncertainty.

Federal immigration agencies must devote additional resources to maintaining pending cases.

Communities and employers may also experience uncertainty while cases remain unresolved.

Advocates for expanding the courts argue that increasing judicial capacity allows cases to be decided more quickly while preserving legal procedures and reducing administrative delays.

Critics Raise Concerns

The expansion has also generated criticism from some immigration attorneys, former immigration judges, and advocacy organizations.

Critics argue that hiring more judges alone may not resolve broader structural issues within the immigration court system.

Some have questioned whether newly appointed judges possess sufficient immigration law experience or whether accelerated hiring could affect consistency in decision-making. Others have expressed concern about changes to training, the dismissal of some judges earlier in the administration, and the overall independence of the immigration courts.

Justice Department officials have rejected suggestions that hiring decisions compromise judicial integrity, maintaining that judges are selected through established procedures and are expected to apply federal law impartially.

Immigration Courts and Due Process

Immigration judges oversee a wide range of proceedings, including:

• Removal (deportation) hearings.
• Asylum applications.
• Bond hearings.
• Cancellation of removal requests.
• Adjustment of immigration status in certain cases.
• Other proceedings governed by federal immigration law.

Every case is intended to be decided based on the facts presented and applicable statutes and regulations.

Individuals appearing before immigration courts generally have the right to present evidence, call witnesses, and be represented by legal counsel at their own expense.

Broader Immigration Strategy

The hiring announcement forms part of the Trump administration’s broader immigration agenda.

Since returning to office, the administration has pursued policies aimed at increasing immigration enforcement, strengthening border security, expanding detention capacity, and accelerating the removal of individuals who are found to be unlawfully present in the United States.

Administration officials have argued that an efficient immigration court system is essential for enforcing existing immigration laws and ensuring timely decisions.

Looking Ahead

Whether the record hiring effort will significantly reduce the immigration court backlog remains to be seen.

While adding nearly 700 immigration judges represents an unprecedented expansion of the court system, millions of pending cases remain, and continued hiring, administrative reforms, and case management improvements may be necessary to achieve lasting reductions in processing times.

The effectiveness of the initiative will likely be measured over the coming months as newly appointed judges begin hearing cases and the Department of Justice releases updated workload statistics.

Conclusion

The Trump administration’s decision to swear in 77 immigration judges and five temporary immigration judges marks the largest single class of immigration adjudicators in the history of the Executive Office for Immigration Review. Combined with a record 153 permanent immigration judge appointments during fiscal year 2026, the expansion reflects the administration’s strategy of increasing judicial capacity to reduce case backlogs and speed immigration proceedings.

Supporters view the move as an important step toward improving the efficiency of the immigration court system and enforcing federal immigration laws more effectively. Critics, meanwhile, continue to raise questions about judicial independence, training, and the long-term impact of broader immigration policy changes. As the newly appointed judges begin their work, the coming years will help determine how much the expanded bench affects the pace and administration of immigration justice in the United States.