The Department of Justice (DOJ) has dismissed multiple immigration judges in a sweeping move that has raised concerns about the stability of the nation’s immigration courts. The terminations were carried out on Friday by the acting director of the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR), the DOJ agency responsible for overseeing immigration courts.

The International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers (IFPTE), a union representing immigration judges, confirmed that five midlevel assistant chief immigration judges and 13 candidates for new judgeships received termination notices. The firings mark the latest in a series of dismissals that have unsettled the immigration court system.

According to the union, more than two dozen immigration judges, managers, and new hires have been removed from their positions since the start of the Trump administration. The ongoing personnel changes have sparked debate over the DOJ’s approach to managing immigration courts, which play a critical role in adjudicating asylum claims and deportation cases.

The Justice Department has not provided a public explanation for the latest terminations, leaving immigration advocates and legal experts speculating about the broader implications for the immigration system. Critics argue that the move could further strain an already overburdened court system, while others view it as part of a broader restructuring effort under the Biden administration.

The dismissals come at a time when the United States is facing a record backlog of immigration cases, with more than 2.6 million pending cases in immigration courts nationwide. The removal of experienced judges and judicial candidates has raised concerns about delays and potential disruptions in case processing.

As the DOJ continues to reshape the immigration judiciary, legal experts and advocacy groups are calling for greater transparency regarding the department’s decisions and their impact on due process for migrants navigating the legal system.