Justice Department Implements 'Mega Masters' to Expedite Deportations, Raising Concerns
The Justice Department has introduced a new strategy in immigration courts to accelerate deportation processes by scheduling 'mega masters' hearings. These hearings involve grouping over 100 immigrants at a time, a significant increase from the previous norm of two to three dozen. This tactic aims to issue more deportation orders swiftly, particularly targeting individuals without legal representation. The Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) has not commented on this strategy, which has already been implemented in cities like Chicago, Boston, and Chelmsford, Massachusetts, with plans to expand to Dallas. The move coincides with President Trump's goal to deport a million people annually, a substantial increase from the 600,000 deportations in 2025. The administration has also prioritized cases involving specific nationalities, such as Somalis, Syrians, and Iranians, and juvenile immigrants.