California has lost more than a quarter of its immigration judges this year

"More than a quarter of federal immigration judges in California have been fired, retired or quit since the start of the Trump administration."

"Nationwide, there were 735 immigration judges last fiscal year, according to the Executive Office for Immigration Review, the arm of the Justice Department that houses immigration courts. At least 97 have been fired since President Trump took office and about the same number have resigned or retired, according to the union representing immigration judges."

"A noncitizen might win their case, might lose their case, but the key question is, did they receive a hearing?"

"Up until this administration, I had always been confident that I was working in a system that, despite its flaws, was fundamentally fair."

More than a quarter of federal immigration judges in California have been fired, retired or quit since the start of the Trump administration. The departures reflect a broader nationwide reduction as the administration scaled up deportation efforts and criticized lengthy immigration court processes amid a backlog of millions of cases. Nationwide counts showed 735 immigration judges last fiscal year, with at least 97 fired and a similar number resigning or retiring. California lost at least 35 judges since January, dropping from 132 to 97, and the San Francisco court lost more than half its bench. Officials intend to fill some vacancies, while the reductions threaten further delays and limit timely access to hearings.

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