In a significant move to combat the backlog in immigration courts, Pentagon Chief Pete Hegseth has approved the deployment of up to 600 military lawyers to the Department of Justice as temporary immigration judges. This decision comes as the number of pending cases in immigration courts exceeds 3.5 million.
The military lawyers will assume the responsibilities of immigration judges for a minimum of 179 days, a measure aimed at expediting the judicial process amid growing concerns over case delays. However, former supervising judge Jennifer Peyton from Chicago, who was dismissed in July, expressed skepticism about the readiness of military lawyers to handle the complexities of immigration law without extensive training. She noted that even six months of preparation may not be adequate for such a specialized role.
This deployment marks a notable shift in the approach to handling immigration cases, which have been a focal point of contention in U.S. politics. As previously reported, the immigration court system has faced mounting pressure due to a surge in cases, prompting discussions on various reforms and strategies to alleviate the backlog.
The impact of this decision remains to be seen, as the military lawyers transition into their new roles. Stakeholders in the immigration community are closely monitoring how this initiative will affect the processing of cases and the overall efficiency of the immigration court system.
