Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth approved sending up to 600 military lawyers to serve as temporary immigration judges, according to a report from the Associated Press.
According to a memo reviewed by the outlet, the military will send groups of 150 attorneys to the Justice Department “as soon as practicable.” The plan is intended to continue no longer than 179 days, but can be renewed if necessary.
The AP noted that a White House official said that the Trump administration is aiming to address the backlog of immigration cases, including hiring additional judges. The development should be “a priority that everyone — including those waiting for adjudication — can rally around,” the official said.
The Justice Department published a rule change in the Federal Register, relaxing the criteria for who can serve as a temporary immigration judge, The New York Times reported.
“The department may designate ‘any lawyer’ as a temporary immigration judge for six months — a period that can be renewed indefinitely,” The Times reported, explaining that the “administration’s description of the change promoted the increased ‘flexibility’ while rejecting critics who raised doubts about whether it would increase the risk of biased judges.”
In February, the Trump administration dismissed 20 immigration judges in its effort to streamline government operations and eliminate waste. This move aligned with President Trump’s broader initiative to shrink the federal workforce. His administration is executing one of the most significant government staff reductions in history, targeting over 200,000 probationary employees across various agencies.
