Pentagon Plans 600 Military Lawyers as Temporary Immigration Judges

The Trump administration is deploying up to 600 military lawyers from the Department of Defense to serve as temporary immigration judges in an effort to address the backlog of immigration cases, a move that effectively doubles the number of immigration judges at the Department of Justice. This strategy, part of President Trump's broader immigration crackdown and re-election campaign focus, has raised concerns due to the military lawyers' limited or no immigration law experience and potential legal issues, including possible violations of the Posse Comitatus Act, which restricts military involvement in civilian law enforcement. The Department of Justice recently relaxed eligibility requirements for temporary immigration judges, allowing any attorney, including military lawyers, to serve without prior immigration experience. Critics argue that this policy shift and the reassignment of military legal personnel divert resources from national security and may undermine the fairness and legality of immigration proceedings. Despite these concerns, the Pentagon and the Department of Homeland Security have requested and approved this measure, with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth directing armed services to provide Judge Advocate General (JAG) attorneys for this purpose. The administration defends the move as necessary to reduce case backlogs, while former military lawyers and legal experts warn it could lead to unprecedented military influence over civilian immigration courts.