Republicans investigate Biden's firing of Trump-appointed immigration judges

July 20, 2022

anna giaritelli wednesday, JULY 20, 2022

The top two Republicans for judicial matters in the House and Senate have launched an investigation to determine if the Biden administration terminated federal immigration judges and replaced them with more progressive judges. Republicans on the Senate and House Judiciary Committees, Sen. Chuck Grassley (IA) and Rep. Jim Jordan (OH), sent Attorney General Merrick Garland a letter Wednesday demanding answers about the Department of Justice’s termination of several judges who were hired during the Trump administration. “At least some of these terminations appear to have been the result of a coordinated effort between the Biden-Harris Administration and far-left immigration advocates,” Grassley and Jordan wrote in the letter. “In fact, in tweeting about two of the terminations, one such advocate commented: ‘I’m immensely proud to have participated in this campaign.’” The two lawmakers alleged that the terminations of at least six judges appointed by former President Donald Trump violated the Civil Service Reform Act, which prohibits discriminating against government employees for their political beliefs. "We are concerned about the complete lack of transparency and lack of notice provided to these judges," the National Association of Immigration Judges said in a statement. "The Agency should but has failed to provide meaningful feedback to probationary judges throughout their probationary period so that they have an opportunity to address any Agency concerns. To the contrary, it is our understanding that the judges were given satisfactory performance evaluations." Approximately 600 judges sit on the immigration court, which is overseen by the DOJ’s Executive Office for Immigration Review. At present, more than 1.8 million cases are sitting before the court. Previous White Houses have boosted funding and hiring for judges, including President Joe Biden, who requested funding for 100 additional judges come October. Grassley and Jordan requested communications between DOJ staff about the judges, termination letters, and background information on the decisions to let go these specific judges. It is not clear if judges appointed by presidents other than Trump have been terminated or how many Trump judges have not been fired. View the article here.