Pentagon Deploys 600 Military Lawyers as Temporary Immigration Judges

The Trump administration is responding to the escalating backlog of nearly 3.5 million immigration cases by deploying up to 600 military and civilian lawyers as temporary immigration judges, a move approved by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth at the Justice Department's request. These attorneys will be assigned in waves of 150, with the first group expected to be identified shortly, and their service initially limited to 179 days but potentially renewable. This deployment aims to nearly double the current number of immigration judges, which has dwindled to about 600 following recent mass firings and voluntary departures encouraged by the administration. A senior White House official emphasized that the administration is exploring multiple solutions, including hiring additional judges, to prioritize resolving the backlog promptly. DOJ and Pentagon officials have deferred inquiries to the White House, where the policy is framed as a unifying priority for all parties involved. The initiative is part of the broader immigration enforcement efforts under President Trump, reflecting the administration's commitment to addressing the judicial bottleneck in immigration courts.