DHS Recruits Deportation Judges to Accelerate Immigration Removals

The Department of Homeland Security has launched a recruitment campaign targeting individuals to serve as deportation judges, part of an effort to speed up removals and tighten immigration enforcement.

In a move described by the administration as critical for restoring integrity to a system conservatives argue has been overwhelmed by fraud and lax enforcement, DHS urged Americans to “be the judge” by applying to join the Justice Department in this role.

The initiative began with a social media post on X stating: “YOU BE THE JUDGE,” encouraging applicants to “write the next chapter of America” through decisions that determine whether individuals must be deported or allowed to remain.

Recruitment materials highlight a salary range of $159,951 to $207,500 annually, with an additional incentive of 25% of base pay for first-time federal employees placed in high-cost locations including New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Boston, and multiple California cities.

Deportation judges are tasked with presiding over cases in federal Immigration Court and making “decisions with generational consequences,” ensuring only individuals with legally meritorious claims remain while combating fraud and preventing exploitation of vulnerabilities in the immigration system.

The campaign follows significant funding increases for DHS, including a $75 billion boost in late October. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem reported over 175,000 applications received for ICE officer positions, with approximately 1,200 to 1,500 new agents deployed as part of the “Defend the Homeland” initiative.

DHS also noted record application surges for Customs and Border Protection, USCIS “Homeland Defenders,” the Secret Service, and the Coast Guard.

The recruitment of deportation judges is intended to address court backlogs that have become a political flashpoint, with advocates asserting it will accelerate removals while ensuring due process is applied without excessive delays.