Immigration Courts Implement 'Mega Masters' to Expedite Deportations, Raising Due Process Concerns
Immigration courts within the U.S. Department of Justice are employing a new strategy to expedite deportations by scheduling 'mega master' hearings. These sessions involve 100 or more immigrants at a time, a significant increase from the previous norm of two to three dozen. This tactic, reported by NPR, is primarily affecting immigrants without legal representation, who may not receive adequate notice of their rescheduled hearings. The American Immigration Lawyers Association and other attorneys have expressed concerns that this approach could lead to an increase in deportation orders issued in absentia, as many immigrants may miss their hearings due to lack of notification. The Executive Office for Immigration Review, which oversees these courts, has not commented on this strategy. The initiative is part of President Trump's broader goal to increase deportations, aiming to remove a million individuals annually, up from 600,000 in 2025. 
