by Emmitt Barry, with reporting from Washington D.C. Bureau Staff
(Worthy News) – Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has authorized sending up to 600 military lawyers to the Justice Department to serve as temporary immigration judges, in what conservatives are calling a bold step to restore law and order at America’s overwhelmed immigration courts.
According to an Aug. 27 memo reviewed by the Associated Press, the Pentagon will begin deploying groups of 150 attorneys — both military Judge Advocates and civilian lawyers — as early as next week. The move comes at the request of the Justice Department as the Trump administration intensifies its crackdown on illegal immigration.
The immigration court system is buckling under the weight of nearly 3.7 million pending cases. Firings and resignations of immigration judges in recent months, part of President Trump’s broader reform efforts, have further exposed the backlog. By deploying seasoned military lawyers, the administration is seeking to cut through bureaucratic gridlock and deliver swift justice.
“At the request of the Department of Justice, the Department of Defense is identifying qualified Judge Advocates and civilian attorneys for details to serve as Temporary Immigration Judges,” Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said Tuesday. “These DOD attorneys will augment existing resources to help combat a backlog of cases by presiding over immigration hearings. The Department remains committed to continuing our support for our interagency partners, bringing the skill and dedication of America’s service members and civil servants to deliver justice, restore order, and protect the American people.”
The Justice Department has also changed hiring rules to allow non-immigration specialists to serve as temporary judges, arguing that prior immigration law experience “is not always a strong predictor of success.” The shake-up comes as the Trump administration presses forward with its promise to carry out the “largest deportation operation in the history of our country.”
Conservatives say the reforms are long overdue after years of unchecked illegal migration and activist judges undermining immigration law. By bringing in disciplined military lawyers and streamlining the court system, the Trump administration is making clear it intends to enforce America’s borders, uphold sovereignty, and put citizens first.
Copyright 1999-2026 Worthy News. This article was originally published on Worthy News and was reproduced with permission.
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