Former Immigration Judges Describe Trump-Era Purge And Replacement With 'Deportation Judges'

Former immigration judges say the Trump administration purged more than 200 judges and replaced them with so-called "deportation judges." They described the changes to Ted Koppel on CBS Sunday Morning, saying the removals took place during the administration's drive for mass deportations.

The CBS piece says more than 200 immigration judges were fired, forced out, or retired and then replaced by what were advertised as "deportation judges." It links those court changes to President Trump's promises and reports tens of thousands of detainees, including U.S. citizens, are held by ICE. Former judges told Koppel they believe current practices deny defendants their day in court and run counter to the law.

Earlier coverage concentrated on the administration's immigration goals and on enforcement numbers rather than on internal court staffing or judges' accounts. The CBS Sunday Morning segment, led by Ted Koppel, shifted the focus toward firsthand judge testimony and has circulated on social media, prompting debate about judicial independence and immigration enforcement.