American Bar Association Commission on Immigration

Watch the recording of last week’s webinar "Dismantling the Bench: Firings, Fear, and the Future of Immigration Justice" sponsored jointly by the ABA Section of Civil Rights and Social Justice and the COI: https://www.youtube.com/live/1n2BzBc9WEo

The American Bar Association has long called for the immigration court system to be moved from the Department of Justice to an independent Article I court to enhance independence from the executive branch. Recent firings of seasoned immigration judges, particularly those with prior experience representing immigrants, have raised serious concerns about the erosion of judicial independence and the integrity of our immigration court system.

According to news reports, approximately 100 immigration judges have been terminated, with some removals occurring abruptly and without any explanation — at a time when the immigration court backlog is at historic highs, exceeding three million pending cases. The COI has tracked data from the Executive Office for Immigration Review’s website at different points in time and it shows that in November 2024 there were 729 immigration judges, and on February 13, 2026, there were 523. These numbers reflect not only firings but also resignations and retirements, as well as some new hires. While the ABA cannot independently confirm this information, it was generated from government sources and demonstrates a concerning trend of significantly fewer immigration judges at a time of increased enforcement actions.

The webinar explored how these dismissals — often without clear justification — are affecting due process for immigrants and asylum seekers while undermining public trust in the courts. Viewers heard directly from former immigration judges and policy experts about the consequences of replacing experienced adjudicators with temporary military judges and hiring additional adjudicators who have been recruited as “deportation judges.” With a backlog of over 3 million cases and rising enforcement actions, the stakes for fairness and functionality in immigration proceedings have never been higher.

Panelists examined the legal, procedural, and human impacts of these changes, and what they signal for the future of immigration adjudication in the U.S. Watch this timely conversation on threats to the rule of law and concerns over ensuring that our immigration courts remain independent, impartial, and just.

Speakers:
💠 Karen Grisez – former Chair and Member, ABA Commission on Immigration
💠 Jeremiah Johnson – Vice President of the National Association of Immigration Judges (NAIJ); former Immigration Judge
💠 Kerry E. Doyle – Partner, Green and Spiegel LLC; former Immigration Judge

Moderator:
💠 Homero López, Jr. – Legal Director, Immigration Services & Legal Advocacy and Member, Commission on Immigration Advisory Committee

Watch the webinar recording in the link below!

Dismantling the Bench: Firings, Fear, and the Future of Immigration Justice Joint Sponsor: ABA Commission on ImmigrationThe American Bar Association has long called for the immigration court system to be moved from the Department of ...

As the year comes to a close, we extend our sincere thanks to our incredible network of volunteers and supporters. Your time, dedication, and partnership make it possible to carry out this vital work and expand access to justice for immigrant communities across the country.

We are also deeply proud of our colleagues and partners at ABA South Texas Pro Bono Asylum Representation Project, ABA Children's Immigration Law Academy, and ABA Immigration Justice Project of San Diego. Their commitment, collaboration, and leadership continue to make a meaningful difference every day.

Wishing everyone a safe, restful, and joyful holiday season, and warm wishes for the year ahead.

The ABA Commission on Immigration is seeking Spanish-speaking volunteers for the Safe City Baltimore Immigration Legal Screening Hotline, a remote opportunity that allows you to make a real impact on your own schedule. Volunteers support non-detained Baltimore City residents by conducting telephonic intakes and legal screenings related to immigration status and available resources.

✨ What to expect:
- Fully remote and flexible participation from anywhere in the country
- Each intake takes about 45 minutes
- Roles available for attorneys and non-attorneys
- No prior immigration experience required for Intake Volunteers
- 3+ years licensed immigration attorneys for Legal Screening Volunteers

🗣️ Spanish fluency is most needed, though other language skills may also be matched.

📚 Volunteers complete a short online training, approximately 1.5 hours, after registering. Interested in volunteering or sharing with your network? Please sign up using the link below and help expand access to reliable immigration information.

https://airtable.com/appOJxbGGONCqQb1c/pagwMSIQ3wcrueJ4Z/form

New federal policies introduced by the Trump administration have made the path to U.S. citizenship more difficult for many lawful permanent residents. Many have seen their naturalization ceremonies abruptly canceled this month as the administration puts an indefinite "hold" on immigration applications from certain countries.

Lawful permanent residents already undergo extensive vetting within the immigration system, and the naturalization process subjects them to additional scrutiny, including background checks, interviews, and a citizenship examination. Canceling naturalization ceremonies without rescheduling creates significant harm for individuals who have already completed nearly all steps required to become U.S. citizens.

🔗 Read more:

Many immigrants' final legal step — citizenship — has become harder under the Trump administration Green card holders are among the most thoroughly vetted people in the nation's immigration system, but citizenship is uncertain for many of them.

Legislation introduced in Congress would strengthen oversight and conditions in U.S. immigration detention facilities, including expanded inspections, greater transparency, and clearer accountability standards. The Dignity for Detained Immigrants Act aims to address ongoing concerns about conditions in ICE detention.

Access to legal information and due process remains critical for individuals in immigration custody. The ABA Commission on Immigration supports detained individuals through its national Detention Information Hotline, which provides accurate legal information and obtains information about detention conditions.

We are currently seeking immigration attorneys with three or more years of removal defense experience to volunteer with the Detention Information Hotline on a flexible, remote basis.

🔗 Read more: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/immigration/2025/12/09/us-rep-escobar-joins-legislation-to-improve-conditions-at-ice-facilities/87669919007/

🔗 Learn more about volunteering: https://airtable.com/appMMjVcU2FOtSH5a/pag55rAyHiihUqoZn/form

US Rep. Escobar joins calls to improve conditions at ICE facilities U.S. Rep. Veronica Escobar, D-El Paso, co-sponsored a bill to establish oversight and human-rights protections in immigrant detention facilities.

Advocates are raising serious concerns that unaccompanied migrant children are being transferred from communities across the country to the Rio Grande Valley and placed into deportation proceedings.

Laura Peña, Director of the ABA South Texas Pro Bono Asylum Representation Project (ProBAR), is quoted in a recent Border Report Article: "The landscape at the border has shifted. Instead of being a front line of responders for people seeking access to asylum, we are now the last line of defense."

🔗 Read more:

Unaccompanied migrant children being sent to Texas border to be deported, lawyers say Dozens of unaccompanied migrant children are being sent by the Trump administration to the Rio Grande Valley of South Texas to await deportation, Border Report has learned.

The American Immigration Council has released a helpful holiday guide that breaks down common myths about immigration with clear, accessible data.

The guide explains what the research shows on issues like crime, voting, taxes, public benefits, and the economic role of immigrant workers. It is a useful resource for keeping conversations grounded in facts during a time when misinformation can spread easily.

Read the guide here:

A Holiday Guide: Debunking 5 Myths about Immigration in the U.S. - American Immigration Council To counter the misinformation at the dinner table, we're here to bust five common myths about immigrants in the United States.

USCIS has announced an immediate halt on processing immigration applications from people belonging to 19 countries previously included in federal travel-restriction lists. The pause applies to a wide range of benefits, including green card petitions, naturalization applications, and asylum cases already in the pipeline.

According to agency statements, the review could also include re-examining cases of individuals from these countries who arrived in the U.S. after 2021, raising significant uncertainty for applicants and their families.

This development represents a major shift in federal immigration processing and will have far-reaching effects for impacted communities and legal service providers navigating these sudden changes.

Read more here:

U.S. pauses green card, citizenship applications for people from 19 countries The Trump administration is pausing all immigration applications such as requests for green cards for people from 19 countries banned from travel earlier this year.

USCIS has announced a major change to work-permit policy: work permits for refugees, asylees, and other immigrants under humanitarian or pending-status categories will now expire after 18 months — down from the previous 5-year validity period. This change will also apply to immigrants with pending applications for asylum or permanent residency (green cards), a group already facing lengthy processing backlogs.

USCIS leadership says the change is intended to allow more frequent security vetting. For migrants and employers alike, this could mean increased uncertainty, more frequent renewals, and potential disruptions, particularly in sectors that rely heavily on immigrant labor.

Read more here:

U.S. tightens immigration work permits in latest move to expand crackdown The Trump administration said it would reduce the period of time that work permits are valid for refugees, asylees and other immigrants granted legal protections in the U.S.

In San Diego, ICE agents have begun arresting foreign-born spouses of U.S. citizens during their final marriage-based green card interviews inside the USCIS office. What should be a routine step in a lawful immigration process has instead become an enforcement setting, with several applicants detained on the spot in front of their families.

Immigration attorneys note that this marks a significant departure from long-standing practice, where spouses with prior visa overstays were still permitted to complete the interview and pursue permanent residency. These arrests are causing trauma for families and eroding trust in a system that is meant to provide a clear legal pathway.

Read more here:

ICE storms USCIS office in San Diego — foreign-born spouses arrested during final green-card interviews Families in San Diego say they are facing one of the most confusing and frightening moments in recent immigration history. ICE detained several foreign-born spouses of U.S. citizens — including the spouse of a Navy veteran — during their marriage-based green-card interviews. Families usually vie...

The ABA has recently documented more than a dozen cases of individuals impersonating ABA immigration attorneys and using fake ABA emails, contracts, and bar licenses to offer fraudulent services. These schemes can cause irreversible harm to people’s immigration cases and finances.

To stay safe when seeking legal help:
- Verify that the person is a licensed attorney in good standing
- Be cautious of unsolicited outreach on social media or WhatsApp
- Review contracts carefully and keep copies of all documents
- Avoid paying fees through apps like Zelle, Cash App, or Venmo
- Seek a second opinion if something sounds too good to be true

For reputable legal assistance, visit the Immigration Advocates Network or the American Immigration Lawyers Association.

Read more here:
https://www.americanbar.org/news/abanews/aba-news-archives/2025/11/new-fraud-reports-impacting-immigration-clients/?utm_source=sfmc&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=YOURABA&promo=YOURABA&RefId=&utm_id=1119850&sfmc_id=45518304

The Trump administration's policy of mandatory detention for many in deportation proceedings has prompted an extraordinary wave of judicial opposition. After ICE implemented the new directive on July 8, federal courts across the country have been flooded with emergency filings from individuals who have long lived in the United States and are pursuing asylum or other forms of legal status.

In more than 700 cases, at least 225 federal judges have concluded that the policy, which removes access to bond hearings and any chance to request release before an immigration judge, is likely unlawful and infringes on due-process rights. The judges issuing these rulings were appointed by every recent administration, including 23 appointed by President Trump, and represent at least 35 states. The number of judges disagreeing with the administration’s approach has more than doubled in less than a month.
Most challenges so far have been individual emergency cases, but broader actions are now underway. Judges in Massachusetts and Colorado have certified class actions challenging the ICE policy, and a federal judge in California has approved a nationwide class that could require the administration to provide bond hearings to everyone affected.

Read more here:
https://www.politico.com/news/2025/11/28/trump-detention-deportation-policy-00669861