'More than what ICE does': Indian-origin historian weighs in on Trump administration naming 33 new immigration judges

The Trump administration has appointed 33 new immigration judges, many with military backgrounds, in a move that some experts say could have a deeper impact than routine actions by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in the US.

Indian-origin historian Varad Mehta quoted a planned regulation alongside the new appointments, noting on X, “The Trump administration plans to publish a fast-track regulation on Friday that would cut the time for someone to appeal an immigration judge's decision to 10 days and make it easier for the appeals board to dismiss appeals.”

He added his own opinion: “This may matter more in the end than what ICE does.”

The Department of Justice (DOJ) announced that the new judges were sworn in on Thursday, following the October hiring of 36 immigration judges, including 25 temporary appointees. The latest group will serve across immigration courts in Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Nebraska, New York, Texas, Utah, Virginia and Washington.




A Justice Department spokesperson defended the move, saying, “After four years of Biden administration hiring practices that undermined the credibility and impartiality of the immigration courts, this Department of Justice continues to restore integrity to our immigration system and is proud to welcome these talented immigration judges to join in our mission of protecting national security and public safety.”

Half of the new permanent judges have a military background, while all temporary judges, who can serve for up to six months, also come from the military. In September, the Pentagon had said that military and civilian lawyers under the leadership of defence secretary Pete Hegseth would temporarily serve as immigration judges.

The appointments come after more than 100 immigration judges, out of roughly 700 nationwide, have been fired or pushed out since US President Donald Trump returned to office a second time.

The American Immigration Lawyers Association has warned that this has reduced the number of judges available to manage a growing backlog of cases.

As of December 31, around 3.2 million cases were pending in immigration courts, according to Mobile Pathways, a nonprofit analysing immigration court data.

The Trump administration has also changed rules about detaining migrants. Many people who could have been released on bond before are now being kept in detention. This comes after a September ruling by the Board of Immigration Appeals that changed the interpretation of an important law, which many federal judges have criticised.

Who is Varad Mehta?

According to Academia records, Varad Mehta is an Indian-origin historian who studies how people understand and use the past. He focuses on the eighteenth century and the Enlightenment, exploring ideas of modernity, history, and politics. He is also interested in intellectual history, philosophy of history, and how the past is shown in films and TV.