A 53-year-old union of immigration judges has been ordered to get supervisor approval to speak publicly to anyone outside the Justice Department. The National Association of Immigration Judges has been a vocal critic of the heavily backlogged immigration courts, advocating for more independence and free legal representation. The recent order requires Justice Department approval for any writing or speaking engagements, including interviews, speeches, and panel discussions.
The order prohibits communication with Congress, news media, and professional forums without prior approval. This directive has sparked criticism from union leaders and other organizations, with claims that it contradicts President Joe Biden's pro-union stance. The Justice Department, including the Executive Office for Immigration Review, has not yet responded to requests for comments on the order.
The judges union, which has been stripped of collective bargaining rights, is facing challenges in speaking out about the issues within the immigration court system. The backlog of cases in these courts has reached over 3 million, leading to significant delays in case resolutions. The Trump administration had clashed with the union over issues of independence and case completion targets.
The current chief immigration judge, who oversees hundreds of judges across various locations, issued the recent order in response to the union's public engagements. The union remains hopeful of regaining its bargaining rights through advocacy efforts. The restrictions on speaking engagements have raised concerns about transparency and free speech within the immigration court system.
Despite the challenges, the union continues to advocate for improvements in the immigration court system. The recent order has drawn attention to the ongoing issues faced by immigration judges and the need for greater autonomy and transparency in court operations.
