Trump succeeds in increasing deportations by hiring military personnel to act as judges

"The reform of immigration courts is one of the measures that has been undertaken by the Trump administration to expedite deportations, which are not occurring at the pace the U.S. president desires. In addition to instructing judges to close asylum cases without a trial, he has sought to replace judges he deemed too favorable to migrants with military lawyers. In recent months, the Republican has dismissed approximately 140 immigration judges and, in their place, hired 36 military lawyers to perform their duties."

"This is demonstrated by a report conducted by Mobile Pathways, a California-based nonprofit organization, which analyzes cases resolved in November, the first month that military judges were active. During that period, immigration judges issued deportation orders in 63% of the cases they heard; meanwhile, military judges ordered the expulsion of 78% of the migrants whose cases they handled. The military judges examined 286 cases and issued rulings in 110, of which 86 migrants were expelled and 14 self-deported; 176 cases are still pending."

"The military is very good at following the rules. And it seems the order they've been given is to get them out of here, says Bartolomiej Skorupa, co-founder of Mobile Pathways. They're stricter and apply the rules more rigorously, he explains. In nine out of 10 cases, migrants whose cases were handled by military judges ended up being deported or self-deporting."

The Trump administration reformed immigration courts to expedite deportations by replacing many judges with military lawyers and instructing judges to close asylum cases without trial. Approximately 140 immigration judges were dismissed and 36 military lawyers were hired to perform their duties, including 11 permanent and 25 temporary judges announced October 24. Most new judges lack immigration experience or previously worked as prosecutors, Border Patrol, or ICE. Mobile Pathways analyzed November cases and found military judges ordered expulsions in 78% of resolved cases versus 63% for traditional judges. Military judges examined 286 cases, issued 110 rulings, with 86 expulsions, 14 self-deports, and 176 pending.

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