The U.S. Department of Justice has recently terminated over two dozen employees, primarily immigration judges, as the immigration court system grapples with a significant backlog of cases.

Among those dismissed are 15 judges and 13 managers, a move that could potentially result in 10,000 fewer cases being heard this year if replacements are not made.

The Executive Office for Immigration Review has remained silent on the firings, referring to them as 'personnel matters' without providing further details.

Many view the firings as hypocritical, highlighting a contradiction between the administration's stated goal of hiring more judges to address the immigration backlog and its recent actions.

Critics, including immigration judge Kerry Doyle, argue that the timing of these firings is illogical, especially as the administration ramps up ICE arrests, further straining the already burdened immigration courts.

Currently, the national backlog of immigration cases exceeds 3.5 million, and experts warn that without hiring at least 700 more judges, it could take a decade to resolve the issue.

Reports indicate low morale among immigration judges, who are feeling the pressure to expedite cases while still ensuring fair hearings for immigrants.

The Chelmsford immigration court, where some of the terminated judges were based, is among the busiest in the nation, handling cases from several states with over 156,000 pending cases.

Doyle has raised concerns that the administration may also target judges who are still on probation, particularly in the newly established Chelmsford court.

Notably, Kerry Doyle, who was appointed in December 2024, was terminated just days before her official swearing-in, which many see as a politically motivated decision.