Trump administration fires eight immigration judges in New York

The U.S. Department of Justice has terminated the employment of eight immigration judges based in New York City, according to the National Association of Immigration Judges (NAIJ) on Tuesday. This action comes amid growing friction with the judiciary as the Trump administration intensifies efforts against undocumented immigrants.

All eight judges were stationed at 26 Federal Plaza in Manhattan, a facility that handles cases of migrants seeking legal status. For several months, federal officers wearing masks have been regularly patrolling the hallways of the Jacob K. Javits Federal Building. These officers sometimes detain migrants as they exit court sessions, often under media scrutiny.

Photographs and footage showing confrontations with law enforcement and the separation of immigrant families have circulated widely, turning 26 Federal Plaza into a prominent symbol of the administration's immigration enforcement nationwide.

The specific reasons for the dismissal of the eight New York judges have not been disclosed. They are part of a larger trend, with around 90 judges removed from their positions over the past year nationwide out of roughly 600, according to the New York Times.

Migrant advocacy organizations argue that these terminations are intended to replace existing judges with individuals more closely aligned with the administrations immigration policies.

The dismissals followed a weekend protest in Manhattan, where several dozen people gathered to obstruct a potential Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operation targeting street vendors. Several arrests were made by New York police.

As a sanctuary city, New York limits local cooperation with federal immigration authorities, though it does not fully block federal operations within the city.

Author: Sophia Brooks