The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) is intensifying immigration enforcement efforts by reallocating resources to border regions, despite a federal hiring freeze. This move aligns with President Donald Trump’s immigration policies and involves deploying prosecutors to areas such as Texas, Arizona, New Mexico, southern California, Florida, New York, and Vermont. The focus is on cases related to illegal entry, drug and human trafficking, and cartel activities.
Concurrently, the DOJ has terminated 20 immigration judges from backlogged courts as part of broader federal workforce reductions. This action raises concerns about exacerbating the existing backlog of over 3.7 million cases pending in immigration courts. The dismissals have led to uncertainty regarding the replacement of these judges and the potential impact on the administration’s deportation agenda.
Additionally, the U.S. Marshals Service has been granted new authority to perform immigration arrests, including detaining defendants appearing in court or granted bail. This expanded mandate has prompted concerns from the judiciary about its impact on the Marshals Service’s traditional roles and the potential for immigration arrests within courthouses.
These developments reflect a significant shift in immigration enforcement strategies, emphasizing stricter measures and resource reallocation to address illegal activities at the border and within the United States.
