Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has authorized sending hundreds of military lawyers to the Justice Department to temporarily serve as immigration judges, according to a memo cited by the Associated Press. The plan involves deploying groups of 150 attorneys “as soon as practicable,” with a maximum of 600 lawyers potentially assigned.
The move aligns with the Trump administration’s intensified efforts to address illegal immigration through expanded arrests and deportations. These measures include border patrols by troops, National Guard deployments in U.S. cities for enforcement, housing individuals awaiting deportation on military bases, and using military aircraft for removals. The initiative has exacerbated pressure on an already overwhelmed immigration court system, which faces a backlog of 3.5 million cases.
An advocacy group for immigration lawyers criticized the directive as a “destructive” strategy aimed at undermining judicial processes. Meanwhile, over 100 immigration judges have been dismissed or resigned under the administration, with at least 17 removed in July “without cause,” according to union reports. This has reduced the number of active judges to approximately 600, doubling their workforce through the military’s involvement.
The memo stated that the assigned attorneys would serve for up to 179 days, with potential extensions. A DOJ spokesperson deferred questions to the Defense Department, which in turn directed inquiries to the White House. A White House official emphasized the administration’s focus on resolving the backlog, calling it a priority for all parties involved.