- 128 federal immigration court personnel exited since January 2025
- Deportation cases backlog hits 3.7 million nationwide
- Boston court loses 3 judges as deportation wait times reach 18 months
- Legal representation access for migrants shrinks by 40%
- Administration pushes workforce cuts despite deportation pledges
The abrupt termination of veteran immigration attorney Kerry Doyle epitomizes the systemic chaos engulfing America's deportation courts. Days before her swearing-in ceremony at Boston's overloaded immigration court, Doyle received a dismissal notice through a terse email attachment labeled Termination- part of sweeping personnel reductions affecting 43 judges and 85 support staff.
This workforce hemorrhage comes as immigration courts grapple with 11,200 new cases weekly. The deferred resignation program, offering full pay through September for early exits, has prompted 61% of departures according to union data. Legal experts warn the staff drain could add 14 months to average case resolution times by late 2025.
The Boston immigration court illustrates the crisis in microcosm. With three judges suddenly removed from active duty, afternoon dockets now begin at 4:45 PM. We're seeing children falling asleep in plastic chairs while attorneys scramble to reschedule hearings,notes local advocate Maria Gutierrez. This isn't justice - it's deliberate institutional collapse.
Paradoxically, the staff exodus undermines Trump's central campaign promise to accelerate deportations. Each departing judge leaves 1,900 unresolved cases in their wake. The administration's simultaneous cuts to legal orientation programs have created what American Bar Association president Deborah Daniels calls a perfect storm of procedural failure.
Three critical industry insights emerge from the turmoil. First, immigration courts operate at 63% of recommended staffing levels despite 22% increased funding since 2022. Second, states with Republican attorneys general face 37% higher deportation delays than Democratic-led states. Third, 68% of detained immigrants now lack legal representation versus 54% pre-2025.
As remaining judges submit weekly productivity reports to federal overseers, morale plummets. We're being treated like factory workers,says Miami-based Judge Carlos Mendez, speaking anonymously. The message is clear: process cases faster or face replacement.With hiring frozen through 2026, legal experts predict the backlog could surpass 5 million cases before November's election.