Ximena Bustillo

I talked to @ximenabustillo.bsky.social about the firing of immigration judges

I noted that the way the Trump administration is approaching the immigration courts reflects a really high prioritization of immigration enforcement & its whole of govt. approach to increasing deportations

A deep dive into the Trump administration's firing of immigration judges The Trump administration is firing scores of immigration judges, and bringing on dozens of others, as it seeks to boost mass deportations. NPR analyzed patterns in hiring and firing.

Thank you as always to those who share their stories with me, have me in their courtrooms and take the time to explain the nuances. Have a listen to the radio: www.npr.org/2025/11/05/n...

But the patterns in hiring, rehiring + firing do highlight priorities for this administration as they know more people will go through immigration courts as more are arrested. And they have criticized the makeup of the court as “inferior” and not committed to upholding the law.

There are exceptions to the patterns (as in most trends) and the patterns don’t indicate intent, since we still don’t know. But 11 new permanent judges, with long law enforcement backgrounds, were recently added to the bench. To be clear - that doesn’t mean they’re not fair.

Fired immigration judges tell me they weren’t given a reason for their terminations. 12 were terminated after their 2 year probationary period. For months, dozens told me they worried their background in immigrant defense resulted in terminations. So I wanted to do the math.

Immigration judges come from various backgrounds. Historically, they did come from an enforcement (ICE) legal career. These courts are under the DOJ, which experts say has always limited the separation between policy enforcement and adjudication of cases. Now that’s being tested.

The DOJ has been firing judges with immigrant defense backgrounds NPR's data analysis shows that the DOJ has tended to fire judges with immigrant defense backgrounds in its recent rounds of dismissals.

Immigration judges with prior immigrant defense work make up the largest share of those fired by the Trump admin. NPR identified 70 fired immigration judges. The changes have at least shifted perception of fairness in these courts

My latest investigation: www.npr.org/2025/11/06/g...

DOJ hires immigration judges after months of layoffs Judges will soon take the bench across 16 states, the Justice Department said. These include courts that saw the biggest losses of judges this year.

After over 125 immigration judges have been fired or quit, DOJ has brought on 36 to the bench -- including 25 military lawyers.

Their backgrounds (at least what DOJ has promoted) shows a priority for those with prior DHS experience.

My latest:
www.npr.org/2025/10/24/g...

It's the deadliest year for ICE in decades. As detentions rise, the trend may continue There have been at least 20 deaths in ICE custody in 2025, the deadliest year since 2004. As the agency is ramping up hiring and increasing detentions, concerns remain about how to stop the trend.

ICE has reached the highest death count since the early 2000s. Former employees cite:
-There are way more people detained
-ICE is making more arrests in communities, which means health histories are less known
-years-long struggle to recruit medical pros

www.npr.org/2025/10/23/n...

ICE tried to send one immigrant to a country he never lived in. Then he lawyered up. Roman Surovtsev is like many others who were detained at their regularly scheduled ICE check-ins. What makes his case different is that his wife has marshalled a team of lawyers on his behalf.

Each immigration case is full of legal complexities. Take Roman Surovtsev, a Texas father who ICE tried & failed to deport 10 years ago.

His case shows the breadth of the admins efforts for deportations & what can happen when people push for legal relief.

My latest:
www.npr.org/2025/10/19/g...

Civil rights jobs have been cut. Those ex-workers warn of ICE detention violations After layoffs, it's unclear how many people are policing civil rights violations inside the Department of Homeland Security, even as the Trump administration ramps up ICE detention.

After layoffs, it's unclear how many people are policing civil rights violations inside the Department of Homeland Security, even as the Trump administration ramps up ICE detention.

DACA has bipartisan support in Congress. Still, Republicans are following Trump's lead President Trump failed to revoke DACA in his first term and his focus on immigration this time has mostly ignored the policy. Still, Republican lawmakers are deferring to the president on the issue.

DACA recipients are being caught up in immigration arrests. In interviews with Republican lawmakers who previously supported pathways to legal status for DACA recipients, nearly every lawmaker was clear: Trump needs to be the one to start talks.

My latest:
www.npr.org/2025/09/28/n...

NPR @ximenabustillo.bsky.social says the same ICE officer on leave after this viral video of him shoving an Ecuadorian woman in NYC is the one she recorded violently arresting a court observer and cursing at her last month www.npr.org/2025/09/26/n...

ICE officer caught on video pushing woman is placed on leave The man appears to be the same officer who was caught last month on NPR audio aggressively arresting a court observer.

🚨NEW-ICE officer caught on video pushing a woman in a NYC immigration court is the same ICE officer NPR reported last month aggressively arrested a court observer.

He was placed on admin leave after this latest incident. Watch the video, hear the audio: www.npr.org/2025/09/26/n...

Trump administration fires more immigration judges Nearly 20 immigration judges received emails this month informing them that they are being let go, NPR has learned, the largest single month of firings since the process began in February.

SCOOP: About 20 immigration judges have been fired this month, adding to the 80 dismissed by President Trump earlier this year.

NPR has been in front of this story and the people impacted on all sides -- do you work for EOIR? LMK. www.npr.org/2025/09/23/n...

Georgia senators demand answers on more than a dozen deaths in immigration detention Sens. Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock are asking Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem for answers after more than a dozen people died in immigration detention, as the department rushes to expand.

Scooplet: Senators are continuing to probe DHS on the death count in detention centers. As DHS ramps up detention capacity and arrests there are concerns over a lack of oversight to these facilities.

www.npr.org/2025/09/23/n...

Trump administration rushes to rent space for immigration officers conducting raids Employees at the General Services Administration are scrambling to lease offices to accommodate a rapid increase of immigration enforcement officers carrying out widespread raids across the country.

One of the GSA employees said ICE has urgently requested the agency find around 300 fully furnished properties with private office space to lease by this winter.

Story from @jennamclaughlin.bsky.social @ximenabustillo.bsky.social + me

Trump administration rushes to rent space for immigration officers conducting raids Employees at the General Services Administration are scrambling to lease offices to accommodate a rapid increase of immigration enforcement officers carrying out widespread raids across the country.

NEW ON @npr.org: Employees at the General Services Administration are scrambling to lease hundreds of offices in an “ICE surge” effort to accommodate a rapid increase of immigration enforcement officers carrying out widespread raids across the country.

Trump administration rushes to rent space for immigration officers conducting raids Employees at the General Services Administration are scrambling to lease offices to accommodate a rapid increase of immigration enforcement officers carrying out widespread raids across the country.

NEW: ICE is asking the General Services Administration to find around 300 fully furnished properties with private office space to lease by winter. GSA has created an “ICE Surge” team in response but grasping to manage the demand after staff losses.
www.npr.org/2025/09/18/g...

Trump administration rushes to rent space for immigration officers conducting raids Employees at the General Services Administration are scrambling to lease offices to accommodate a rapid increase of immigration enforcement officers carrying out widespread raids across the country.

NEW with @ximenabustillo.bsky.social and @stphnfwlr.com:

The Trump administration is rushing to rent space for immigration officers conducting raids nationwide:

www.npr.org/2025/09/18/g...

Inside one of the most understaffed immigration courts in the country The Chelmsford, Mass., court has hemorrhaged judges, a consequence of the Trump administration's seemingly contradictory efforts to downsize the federal government and increase immigration arrests.

The Chelmsford, Mass., court has hemorrhaged judges, a consequence of the Trump administration's seemingly contradictory efforts to downsize the federal government and increase immigration arrests.

Inside one of the most understaffed immigration courts in the country The Chelmsford, Mass., court has hemorrhaged judges, a consequence of the Trump administration's seemingly contradictory efforts to downsize the federal government and increase immigration arrests.

In Feb. the first round of immigration judges was laid off. Union officials warned me — if the admin starts cutting judges as they finalize their two year probationary period — the Chelmsford Immigration Court could be in big trouble.

My latest: www.npr.org/2025/08/13/n...

Asylum-seekers thought they were following the rules. Now some are told to start over NPR has learned that dozens of immigrants across the U.S. have received letters notifying them that their asylum cases have been dismissed because they have not yet received a screening interview.

ICYMI: In the last few weeks, some people who applied for asylum via USCIS years ago got letters telling them to report to ICE to be sent back to USCIS for whats called a credible fear interview - a key step lawyers say now comes with risks.

My latest: www.npr.org/2025/08/10/n...

Asylum-seekers thought they were following the rules. Now some are told to start over NPR has learned that dozens of immigrants across the U.S. have received letters notifying them that their asylum cases have been dismissed because they have not yet received a screening interview.

NPR has learned that dozens of immigrants across the U.S. have received letters notifying them that their asylum cases have been dismissed because they have not yet received a screening interview.

Christian refugees caught in the crosshairs of U.S. immigration policy The Trump administration's overhaul of the U.S. asylum and refugee systems has taken a toll on people fleeing religious persecution, including many Christians.

The Trump administration's overhaul of the U.S. asylum and refugee systems has taken a toll on people fleeing religious persecution, including many Christians.

Bloodied Faces, Sobbing Children: Immigration Officers Smash Car Windows to Speed Up Arrests We’ve documented nearly 50 incidents of immigration officers shattering car windows to make arrests — a tactic experts say was rarely used before Trump took office. ICE claims its officers use a “mini...

NEW: We’ve documented nearly 50 incidents of immigration officers shattering car windows to make arrests — a tactic experts say was rarely used before Trump took office.

ICE claims officers use a “minimum amount of force.”

You can judge for yourself.

By @nicolefoy.bsky.social @mckenziefunk.com

USCIS Issues Plan to Fulfill Trump Birthright Citizenship Order The agency that administers immigration benefits is making plans to carry out President Donald Trump‘s executive order restricting birthright citizenship, even though its currently blocked by the cour...

Trump's executive order upending birthright citizenship is blocked by multiple courts, but USCIS is making plans to carry it out if allowed to go into effect.

It's released an implementation plan defining which groups of immigrant children would lose automatic birthright citizenship.

DHS is urging DACA recipients to self-deport "DACA does not confer any form of legal status in this country," said DHS assistant press secretary Tricia McLaughlin, who then encouraged "every person here illegally" to self-deport.

"DACA does not confer any form of legal status in this country," said DHS assistant press secretary Tricia McLaughlin, who then encouraged "every person here illegally" to self-deport.

Hi, I'm Ximena, NPR's reporter covering the Homeland Security Dept+immigration policy. Send me tips securely via encrypted messaging on Signal, where my username is ximenabustillo.77. We're committed to protecting your identity, & will keep you anonymous if you fear retribution. Thank you in advance

DHS is urging DACA recipients to self-deport "DACA does not confer any form of legal status in this country," said DHS assistant press secretary Tricia McLaughlin, who then encouraged "every person here illegally" to self-deport.

In the past few months the Trump administration moved to strip DACA recipients of healthcare & launched investigations into colleges providing financial aid for them

Now DHS is urging participants to “self deport” marking weakening protections. My latest: www.npr.org/2025/07/29/n...