Fact Check: Did the Justice Department Fire 20 Immigration Judges to Shrink the Government?

One of our subscribers asked DBUNK to fact-check a widely shared Associated Press report about the Justice Department’s termination of immigration judges under the Trump administration. The article, which you can read here, raises concerns over mass layoffs in immigration courts with an already severe backlog.

Misinformation & Missing Context

The article strongly implies that the judge firings were politically motivated and tied directly to Trump’s priorities of mass deportation and government downsizing. However, it fails to provide critical context regarding federal employment procedures, probationary status, and past precedent for judge terminations.

For instance, the reference to 20 judges being “fired without explanation” lacks clarification that those dismissed included 13 who had not yet even been sworn in. Federal agencies regularly terminate probationary employees who have not yet received full civil service protections—a process that occurs under multiple administrations, not just Trump’s.

There is also a glaring omission regarding whether these judges were part of a broader performance-related process or routine turnover. Without evidence proving these firings were uniquely tied to policy goals rather than standard employment practice, the article leaves a misleading impression.

Is This About Immigration Policy or Cutting Government Jobs?

The report strongly leans towards implying the firings were a direct assault on immigration leniency, but it overlooks key facts about broader workforce cuts. Federal law allows agencies to dismiss probationary employees without the same due process as permanent ones. While it is true the Trump administration has emphasized shrinking government size, this is a separate issue from targeted immigration policy changes.

A better question to ask: Who benefits from framing this news as an attack on immigration courts rather than routine employment practices? While the firings could indeed impact case backlogs, without further details on whether these judges would be replaced, speculation about political intent remains unsupported.

The Bottom Line

Did the Justice Department fire 20 immigration judges? Yes. But was it a direct political move to crack down on immigration? The article doesn’t present conclusive proof of that. While the Trump administration has made its immigration stance clear, this report lacks data showing these firings are a targeted attack rather than regular administrative actions.

As always, DBUNK is here to cut through the noise. If you see a claim that needs fact-checking, submit it to us for free—we investigate, verify, and publish the truth.