The Trump administration is dramatically reshaping the immigration court system as it pushes to accelerate deportations and reduce the massive backlog of pending cases that has accumulated over the past several years.
At the center of the effort is a new approach known as “mega master” hearings, where immigration courts schedule large groups of cases—sometimes more than 100 at a time—in a single session. The goal is straightforward: move cases through the system more quickly and ensure that individuals who fail to appear or respond to court proceedings face prompt removal orders.
Administration officials argue that the changes are necessary because the immigration court system is overwhelmed. More than three million cases are currently awaiting resolution, creating delays that can stretch for years and, critics say, undermine enforcement of immigration laws.
The Executive Office for Immigration Review, which operates under the Department of Justice, has implemented the larger hearing sessions under the direction of Attorney General Todd Blanche.
“The Trump administration is committed to reestablishing an immigration judge corps that is dedicated to restoring the rule of law in our nation’s immigration system,” Blanche said in a recent statement.
Alongside the expanded hearings, the administration has directed immigration judges to move cases forward more aggressively. According to reports, judges have been instructed to deny bond requests when appropriate, dismiss cases lacking legal grounds to proceed, and issue removal orders more efficiently.
To help address staffing shortages, roughly 600 military attorneys have also been assigned to assist with immigration proceedings. The Department of Defense has described the effort as a way to supplement existing resources and reduce the enormous backlog facing the courts.
The personnel changes have been substantial. Since last year, more than 100 immigration judges have either been removed, retired, or resigned. At the same time, the administration has hired more than 150 new judges as part of its broader effort to expand court capacity.
The court reforms coincide with the administration’s ambitious deportation agenda. Congressional projections indicate that Immigration and Customs Enforcement could remove approximately one million individuals between 2026 and 2027 while expanding detention capacity to roughly 99,000 beds.
Supporters argue that the measures are long overdue and represent an attempt to restore credibility to an immigration system that has struggled under years of mounting caseloads and limited resources. They contend that a functioning court system requires timely hearings and timely decisions, whether those decisions result in deportation or relief from removal.
Critics, however, have raised concerns that large-scale hearings could limit individualized consideration of cases and place additional pressure on migrants navigating a complex legal process. Immigration advocacy groups have argued that speed should not come at the expense of due process protections.
The administration maintains that both goals can be achieved simultaneously: enforcing immigration laws while providing hearings before immigration judges.
