Adding more judges allows the system to schedule and complete more hearings each year. With a higher capacity, cases can move through the process faster. This could lead to quicker decisions on whether individuals should be deported or allowed to remain in the United States.
The Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) has further noted 77 new immigration judges and 5 temporary immigration judges. The agency described it as the largest single class of new adjudicators in its history.
The latest additions brings the total number number of immigration judges to nearly 700. EOIR has now hired 153 permanent immigration judges in the current fiscal year, the highest number for any single year.
Immigration judges work within the EOIR system and decide cases involving people who are in the United States and facing removal (deportation) proceedings. These judges conduct hearings where they review evidence, listen to arguments from government attorneys and individuals or their lawyers, and make decisions.
Their rulings can include ordering removal, granting relief from removal (such as asylum or other forms of protection), or other outcomes based on immigration law. They operate similarly to administrative law judges, focusing on applying federal immigration statutes and regulations to individual cases.
Temporary immigration judges serve in similar roles for a limited time. As disclosed by the announcement, all new judges — permanent and temporary — complete the same training program to prepare them for their duties.
A key goal for EOIR is reducing the large backlog of cases in immigration courts. As of the announcement, the pending caseload has dropped from about 4 million cases to under 3.53 million since January 20, 2025.
This represents a reduction of more than 447,000 cases, with over 1.08 million cases completed in that period — the largest such decrease in the agency’s history, based on a DOJ press release.
Faster processing may result in more deportations for those identified removable, as well as quicker resolutions for those granted relief. However, the actual outcomes depend on the facts of each case, applicable law, and available evidence.
The hiring effort reflects ongoing efforts to manage the volume of immigration cases. Immigration courts handle a wide range of matters, including asylum claims, adjustment of status, and other relief applications.
The backlog had grown significantly in prior years due to rising case filings and limited adjudicator capacity. More judges provide additional resources to address both new cases and older ones still waiting for hearings.
