Trump turns to military lawyers as temporary immigration judges after mass firings

The Trump administration is preparing an unusual move to ease the strain on America’s overburdened immigration courts—deploying hundreds of military lawyers to serve as temporary immigration judges.

According to a memo reviewed by the Associated Press, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has approved the transfer of up to 600 attorneys from the military to the Department of Justice (DOJ). These lawyers, both military and civilian, will be assigned in waves of 150 and could begin arriving “as soon as practicable.” The Pentagon has directed the military branches to identify the first group of candidates by next week.

The decision comes against the backdrop of an escalating immigration crackdown under President Donald Trump. Arrests, deportations, and enforcement operations have surged, but the nation’s immigration courts are already buckling under a massive caseload. Nearly 3.5 million immigration cases are pending nationwide, a backlog that has grown steadily over the past several years.


At the same time, the number of sitting immigration judges has shrunk. According to the International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers, at least 17 judges were dismissed “without cause” in recent months, while others departed after accepting deferred resignations encouraged by the administration. That has left about 600 judges to handle millions of cases—meaning the Pentagon’s deployment could effectively double the current bench strength.

The plan, initiated at the DOJ’s request, calls for temporary appointments lasting up to 179 days, though extensions remain possible. When asked about the policy, DOJ officials referred inquiries to the Defense Department, while Pentagon spokespeople deferred to the White House.

A senior White House official defended the move, saying the administration is exploring “a variety of options” to reduce the backlog, including hiring new judges. “This should be a priority that everyone—including those waiting for adjudication—can rally around,” the official added.