In February 2025, the Executive Office of Immigration Review (EOIR) began firing over 100 immigration judges without reason. These judges had completed EOIR’s training program before investiture, and many of them had years of experience adjudicating complex immigration cases. On August 28, however, EOIR submitted a final rule that made it easier for the agency to appoint temporary immigration judges (TIJs) who lacked prior experience in immigration law. Shortly after, the Department of Defense (DOD) approved sending 600 military lawyers to serve as TIJs.
Legal experts have expressed concern regarding the training EOIR provides all its new judges — particularly those without experience in immigration law. Immigration law is one of the most complex forms of law and immigration attorneys make life-or-death decisions for vulnerable populations. Improper training can lead to inconsistent and incorrect rulings, exacerbating issues of due processes and the ever-growing backlog of cases.
The American Immigration Council filed a request under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) to obtain EOIR’s training material for immigration judges. The request seeks:
- EOIR’s most recent version of its Immigration Judge Training
- Copies of training materials provided to temporary immigration judges
- Records of ongoing and additional training to immigration judges
Records obtained as a result of this request will provide the public with a greater understanding of how EOIR trains immigration judges in the applicable jurisprudence before they adjudicate highly complex cases.
