The Trump administration has fired almost 100 immigration judges this year. On paper, these seem like ordinary job cuts; however, they are changing how the entire court system works. The problem isn’t just replacing judges. The ones who stayed on are now fearful that their own jobs are at risk, potentially scaring them to rule a certain way.

One judge who was fired said, “All of the judges are now sitting speculating about whether they’re next, and the impact that that may have in their ability to remain impartial and do their jobs fairly.” If judges are led to believe that they might get fired for an unfavorable decision, they can’t focus on applying the law. 

They start worrying about how their ruling will look to the people in power. If a decision doesn’t align with their boss’s opinion, they might be the next to go.

That fear changes everything. A judge who is scared cannot judge impartially. They could potentially deny a case to be on the safe side. They might stop asking hard questions or rush through hearings. None of this is about the law — it’s about avoiding trouble. That is exactly how the judicial process breaks down.

The way these dismissals are happening makes it worse. Judges are getting termination emails in the middle of hearings. Some are escorted out of the courtroom without a proper explanation. Many judges who come from immigrant-defense backgrounds are being removed.

New judges with government enforcement experience fill the empty spots. The pattern is clear; everyone inside the system sees it.

As a consequence, the courts slow down. When a judge is suddenly fired, thousands of cases must be reassigned. Some immigrants are waiting until 2029 for a hearing. People who have already waited for years must wait even longer. Nothing about this makes the system stronger or more organized. It only creates confusion and fear.

A court cannot work if judges feel like one unfavorable move could end their careers. These individuals should rule based on the law and not worry about pleasing the Trump administration. 

Immigration courts were meant to give people a real chance to be heard. But if judges are pushed to rule a certain way, that promise no longer holds.

The more that judges are unjustly fired like this, the harder it becomes to trust that court rulings are truly unbiased. Once that trust is gone, the whole system falls apart.