Immigration courts use ‘mega masters’ to speed deportations : NPR
NPR Topics: Politics — 2026-05-26 04:00:00 — www.npr.org
Trump Administration’s Immigration Court Strategy Raises Concerns
In a controversial move, immigration courts under the Justice Department are significantly accelerating the scheduling of hearings for immigrants, a tactic that critics argue is designed to expedite deportation orders. This unprecedented approach, referred to as “mega masters,” involves grouping 100 or more individuals into a single hearing, a stark increase from the previous norm of two to three dozen. For many immigrants, this marks their first opportunity to present their case for remaining in the United States.
Targeting Vulnerable Immigrants
Legal experts have raised alarms about the implications of these new hearings, particularly for individuals without legal representation. “The major concern is that [since] this is going to be a group of people without attorneys, that they’re not going to have gotten proper notice,” said Vanessa Dojaquez-Torres, a practicing policy counsel at the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA). She emphasized that the courts often lack sufficient seating for such large gatherings, suggesting that the hearings may be structured to increase the number of automatic deportation orders.
The Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR), which oversees immigration courts, did not respond to requests for comment regarding this new strategy.
Trump’s Deportation Goals
The push for expedited hearings aligns with President Trump’s stated goal of deporting one million individuals annually, a significant increase from the 600,000 deportations recorded in 2025. Trump has frequently criticized the backlog of millions of immigration cases, labeling the courts as impediments to swift deportation.
Consequences of Missed Hearings
Under the current administration, if an individual fails to appear for their scheduled hearing, even inadvertently, judges can issue removal orders, allowing immigration officers to detain and deport them. An NPR analysis from last year indicated that this has become increasingly common, as fear of detention has led to lower attendance rates in court.
Dojaquez-Torres and other immigration attorneys have expressed concern that many immigrants, particularly those without legal counsel, may not be aware of changes to their hearing dates, leaving them vulnerable to deportation. “In some cases, little to no notice is being issued by the government by mail or electronically,” she noted, highlighting the risk for those who do not regularly check their online accounts for updates.
Impacts of Mega Masters
The “mega masters” are reportedly composed of individuals whose original hearings were scheduled for 2027, 2028, or 2029. One Texas-based immigration attorney, who spoke anonymously due to fears of professional repercussions, stated, “They’re anticipating that the majority will not show up and they’ll just be able to say that they completed X number of cases because they’ll be in absentia orders of removal.” This raises concerns about the potential for overwhelmed court staff and overcrowded courtrooms if many individuals do attend.
Staffing Changes in Immigration Courts
This is not the first instance of the EOIR pushing to streamline cases during Trump’s second term. The agency has also prioritized cases involving specific nationalities, including Somalis, Syrians, and Iranians, as well as juvenile immigrants. Recently, the DOJ announced its largest-ever class of new immigration judges, onboarding 77 judges and five temporary military lawyers. The agency has claimed to have hired 153 immigration judges this fiscal year, the highest number in any single year.
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche stated, “The Trump administration is committed to reestablishing an immigration judge corps that is dedicated to restoring the rule to the law in our nation’s immigration system.” However, this rapid hiring comes on the heels of significant turnover, with EOIR losing about a quarter of its immigration judges last year, including over 100 firings. An NPR analysis found that judges with experience representing immigrant clients were more likely to be dismissed than those with backgrounds solely in the Department of Homeland Security.
Conclusion
The Trump administration’s aggressive strategy to expedite immigration hearings raises serious questions about due process and the treatment of vulnerable populations. As the administration pushes for higher deportation numbers, the implications for immigrants navigating an already complex legal system could be profound. Legal experts warn that without proper representation and adequate notice, many may face unjust removal from the country.
Source: https://www.npr.org/2026/05/26/nx-s1-5830474/trump-immigration-courts-mega-masters