The United States Department of Justice has removed eight immigration judges serving in New York City, the association representing them confirmed on Tuesday, as tensions continue between the courts and President Donald Trump’s administration amid its crackdown on undocumented migrants.
The National Association of Immigration Judges (NAIJ), which verified the media reports, stated that all eight judges had been working at 26 Federal Plaza in Manhattan. The location contains a court that reviews cases brought by migrants attempting to regularise their status.
For months, masked federal officers have carried out daily patrols inside the Jacob K. Javitz Federal Building. These officers arrest migrants as they exit their hearings, often under the observation of the press, which is usually present.
Images depicting clashes with police and the separation of immigrant families have circulated widely across the world, transforming 26 Federal Plaza into a symbolic site of the Trump administration’s broader migrant enforcement efforts.
What prompted the dismissal of the eight New York judges remains uncertain. Nevertheless, a report by the New York Times notes that they are among approximately 90 judges dismissed nationwide over the year, out of a pool of about 600.
According to migrant advocacy groups, the dismissals suggest an effort to replace departing judges with others more aligned with the administration’s immigration agenda.
The removals occurred after several dozen individuals gathered in Manhattan over the weekend in an attempt to stop a potential Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raid targeting street vendors. New York police made several arrests during the incident.
New York City, recognised as a sanctuary city for migrants, voluntarily restricts cooperation between its local authorities and federal immigration services. However, this does not prevent federal agencies from conducting their operations.
Glive24/SS