Democratic congressman slams Trump for firing immigration judges who ruled against deportations
More than 100 of roughly 750 immigration judges fired; union says dismissals occurred 'without due process'
NEW YORK, United States (MNTV) – Democratic Representative Dan Goldman has condemned President Donald Trump for firing immigration judges whose rulings conflicted with the administration’s deportation agenda, warning that the purge amounts to the destruction of judicial independence in the immigration system.
Judges Roopal Patel and Nina Froes were among those dismissed, having previously blocked the deportation of international students Rumeysa Ozturk and Mohsen Mahdawi — arrested by ICE last year during raids targeting students who had supported Palestinian causes or participated in protests the Trump administration characterized as antisemitic. Four of their colleagues were also fired the previous week.
“Donald Trump is purging immigration judges who aren’t rubber stamps for his cruel, inhumane mass deportation agenda,” Goldman said in a video posted on X, noting that more than 100 of approximately 750 immigration judges have been dismissed, with others who “refused to comply” with administration wishes threatened.
The union representing the judges said the dismissals occurred “without due process, cause or explanation.”
Goldman noted that immigration courts fall under the Justice Department, meaning Trump can hire and fire judges at will. He said newly hired judges are “almost all former immigration prosecutors with the Department of Homeland Security or military lawyers,” and that the administration is openly advertising for what it calls “deportation judges.”
He said judges who lost their jobs told him personally that “it was very clear they were expected to rule in favor of the government or they were at risk of being fired.”
Dismissed judge Nina Froes told the New York Times she could not be certain her position would have been secure had she ruled differently. “I can’t imagine it was helpful,” she said. Aaron Reichlin-Melnick of the American Immigration Council called the firings “the death of due process,” writing on X: “The message that has been sent to every immigration judge is that if you ever rule against the administration, you will be fired.” He noted the Biden administration fired just six judges during their two-year probationary period, compared to more than 100 under Trump.
Goldman has introduced the Real Courts, Rule of Law Act, which would move immigration courts out of the Justice Department and create an independent judicial body. “My bill would fix this very, very critical problem and stop Trump’s weaponization of our immigration system,” he said.
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