Former Immigration Judges Allege Unfair Firings and Attacks on the Rule of Law

Three former federal immigration judges, George Pappas, Jennifer Peyton, and Carla Espinoza, were recently terminated from their positions. The firings, which occurred via email, have sparked controversy and raised concerns about the integrity of the immigration court system. These judges had collectively presided over thousands of immigration cases in Chicago and Boston.

Pappas, who served as an immigration judge in Boston, described his firing as arbitrary and an attack on the rule of law and the judiciary. Peyton, who led Chicago's immigration court for nearly nine years, also stated she received no explanation for her dismissal. Espinoza, who was appointed in 2023, expressed concerns about the pressure and fear felt by judges, which she believed could hinder their impartiality.

Both Pappas and Peyton revealed they were instructed on how to rule on immigration cases. Pappas recounted being told to grant motions to dismiss, particularly when ICE agents were present in courthouses. Peyton noted that immigrants were often detained by ICE agents immediately after leaving court hearings.

The Executive Office for Immigration Review oversees federal immigration courts, which currently face a significant backlog of nearly four million cases. The International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers, the union representing immigration court judges, reports that over 100 immigration judges have been fired, transferred, or retired since the start of the Trump Administration.

The former judges expressed concerns about the potential consequences of undermining the court system. Espinoza emphasized the importance of due process and the potential for such actions to set a dangerous precedent. Pappas stated that the administration's actions demonstrated a lack of concern for the backlog. The Justice Department declined to comment on the union's allegations but stated that the Trump Administration is enforcing immigration laws.