Hegseth Authorizes 600 Military Lawyers To Be Immigration Judges
https://sportalix.com/2025/09/04/hegseth-authorizes-600-military-lawyers-to-be-immigration-judges/
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has authorized the temporary deployment of up to 600 military lawyers to assist the Department of Justice by serving as immigration judges. According to an August 27 memo obtained by the Associated Press, the plan involves sending groups of 150 attorneys at a time, both military and civilian, with the first group to be selected and deployed imminently.
This decision aligns with the Trump administration’s broader use of military resources in its immigration crackdown. The military is already involved in various roles, including patrolling the U.S.-Mexico border, supporting immigration enforcement in cities, and using bases and aircraft for deportation operations. The deployment of lawyers aims to alleviate pressure on an immigration court system overwhelmed by a backlog of around 3.5 million cases.