DOJ Immigration Courts Use Mass Hearings To Accelerate Deportation Orders
As of Tuesday, May 26, 2026, Justice Department immigration courts are holding "mega master" mass hearings to speed deportation decisions in cities including Chicago, Boston and Chelmsford, Massachusetts.[1]
Advocates say many respondents in those accelerated dockets lack legal representation, and some hearings were moved up from years in the future, raising the risk of in-absentia removal orders.[1]
The consolidated sessions group more than 100 respondents into single proceedings, a practice the reporting says has been used to accelerate case resolution.[1] NPR reported Tuesday that courts have shifted scheduled dates and consolidated dockets to move cases more quickly.[2]
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📌 Key Facts
- As of Tuesday, May 26, 2026, the NPR newsletter reports that Justice Department immigration courts are using new "mega master" mass hearings to speed deportation decisions.
- The "mega master" mass hearings consolidate more than 100 respondents into single sessions to accelerate case resolution.
- Those consolidated sessions have been used in cities including Chicago, Boston and Chelmsford, Massachusetts.
- The report says many immigrants on these accelerated dockets lack legal representation.
- In some cases, hearings were moved up from years in the future, increasing the risk of in-absentia removal orders.
📰 Source Timeline (2)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
May 26, 2026
11:20 AM
U.S. strikes Iran. And, immigration courts use new tactic to speed up deportations
New information:
- The NPR newsletter re-highlights that as of May 26, 2026, Justice Department immigration courts are using new "mega master" mass hearings of over 100 respondents to speed deportation decisions, particularly in cities like Chicago, Boston and Chelmsford, Massachusetts.
- It reiterates that many immigrants in these accelerated dockets lack legal representation and that hearings for some were moved up from years in the future, increasing the risk of in-absentia removal orders.