The Trump administration is sending 600 military lawyers to serve as temporary immigration judges. The move aims to ease a massive backlog of cases and fill the void left by judges who have resigned or been dismissed.
Backlog Meets Military Expertise
With hundreds of thousands of immigration cases awaiting review, the Justice Department has turned to military attorneys to step in. These lawyers will handle hearings, issue rulings, and work under the same rules as civilian judges, though their temporary status raises questions about training and independence.
Political Pushback
Opposition Democrats argue that deploying military lawyers into domestic judicial roles blurs the line between civilian law enforcement and military authority. Critics warn that this move could set a precedent for future deployments and further politicize the immigration system.
As the debate unfolds, stakeholders across sectors will watch whether this strategy delivers faster case processing or fuels new controversies over the role of the military in civilian affairs.
Reference(s):
Pentagon sends 600 military lawyers as temporary immigration judges
cgtn.com