Title: Military Lawyers to Temporarily Fill Immigration Judge Vacancies Amidst Backlog Crisis The recent decision by U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to authorize about 600 military lawyers to work as temporary immigration judges highlights the ongoing crisis in the United States’ immigration system, particularly within the Department of Justice’s Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR). This move comes after the Justice Department lowered the requirements and removed the need for prior immigration experience for those who qualify as temporary immigration judges. The decision to involve military lawyers is a direct response to the backlog crisis that has been exacerbated by President Trump’s aggressive immigration policy, which includes increased arrest rates of undocumented immigrants, scaled-up detention space, and deportations. This rapid pace of enforcement actions has led to millions of cases being backed up at EOIR, while also experiencing a loss of over 100 judges in the last nine months due to firings or voluntary resignations. The Homeland Security Department is now launching a nationwide recruitment campaign for deportation officers, investigators, and attorneys as part of its efforts to address this crisis. However, it remains unclear how effective these measures will be in the long term without addressing the root causes of the backlog issue. From a historical perspective, this situation is not unprecedented; similar crises have occurred during previous administrations when immigration policies were tightened or changed abruptly. The current administration’s aggressive stance on immigration has only served to exacerbate these issues and highlight the need for comprehensive reform of the U.S.’s immigration system. As a blogger, I believe that this development is significant because it underscores the urgent need for meaningful change in our country’s approach to immigration enforcement. While temporary solutions like involving military lawyers may help alleviate some pressure on the system, they do not address the underlying issues contributing to the backlog crisis. It is time for policymakers and lawmakers to come together and develop a comprehensive plan that addresses both the humanitarian concerns of immigrants seeking asylum or citizenship and the security needs of our nation. Only then can we hope to see real progress in resolving this ongoing issue.
Source: [Original Article](https://www.npr.org/2025/09/02/g-s1-86691/military-lawyers-immigration-judges-jag)
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