The Trump administration fired six more immigration judges on Friday, adding to growing dismissals as judges and lawyers continue to push for a more independent judicial immigration system.

The newly fired judges are now among over 100 fired so far in Donald Trump’s second term. The number of US immigration judges has reportedly diminished by about a quarter in the last year. Twelve courts have lost more than half their judges, while many have “skeleton crews,” and two courts have no judges at all.

Carmen Maria Rey Caldas, a New York immigration judge fired in August, spoke in an interview about the broader implications of this issue, explaining:

The concept of procedural due process, the idea that you get to have a hearing in the United States…is a bedrock principle of law… Despite that, the Trump administration has done its utmost to erode that principle by firing judges that it perceived has being opposed to the administration’s stated goal to deport as many people as possible with the least amount of due process available.

The American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) released a statement in March expressing support for recently introduced legislation called The Real Courts, Rule of Law Act of 2026. The bill proposes transitioning the immigration system into an independent judiciary. Immigration judges are currently appointed by the attorney general, which critics say could cause pressure to decide cases based on the governing administration’s policies.

AILA’s executive director, Benjamin Johnson, echoed Caldas’ comments, stating:

Every day, AILA attorneys across the country see how our immigration courts are being pushed further away from what a court of law should be… Judges should never feel compelled to deport, detain, or dismiss cases in ways that contradict the law, nor should they fear retaliation for refusing to follow a political agenda. Creating an independent immigration court is a critical first step to protecting due process, restoring integrity, and ensuring decisions worthy of the public’s trust.

The firings are a part of larger immigration policy of the current administration, including expansive use of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and detention centers. Immigration enforcement activity across the country has led to widespread protests, and detention centers in several states have been criticized for alleged inhumane conditions, including Florida and Texas. Many have also scrutinized ongoing attempts to deport activists, such as Mahmoud Khalil.