Soldiers in Robes: Why Military Lawyers Can Not and Should Not Serve as Immigration Judges

Kevin R. Johnson

13 Nov 2025 — 1 min read

The Department of Justice recently appointed 25 temporary immigration judges, two-thirds of whom are military lawyers. The Pentagon says it plans to send hundreds more to help relieve the strain on immigration courts. For criticism of these steps by Mark Nevitt and Margy O’Herron on Just Security, click here. They claim that "[t]hese unprecedented moves violate federal law and breach a foundational American principle: military power must not be wielded over civilians in domestic affairs."

Apps Open for Guadalajara Program Jan 8-13, 2027

I had the pleasure of attending this program in the summer of 2024. I cannot recommend it enough. I learned a tremendous amount about the immigration process in Mexico. If you're interested in attending, fill out this short registration form.

Urban Institute: Impacts of Heightened Immigration Enforcement on Children’s Education by Hamutal Bernstein, Diana Guelespe, Laura Betancur, Julio Salas

New from the Urban Institute: Impacts of Heightened Immigration Enforcement on Children’s Education by Hamutal Bernstein, Diana Guelespe, Laura Betancur, Julio Salas "The study’s key findings are as follows: * -- Nearly half of parents reported that their children had expressed concern about going to school because of

From the Bookshelves: When Africa Comes to America How the Next Wave of Immigrants Will Transform the United States by Neeraj Kaushal

When Africa Comes to America: How the Next Wave of Immigrants Will Transform the United States Neeraj Kaushal Columbia News: "Africans are the fastest-growing immigrant group to the United States. Only a tiny fraction in the 1960s, they represented 10% of documented immigration in 2022. Without attracting much notice,

Law360: BREAKING: Justices To Weigh If Cooking For Terrorists Bars Asylum

Britain Eakin for Law360 reports that the U.S. Supreme Court today granted review "whether a Nigerian man's short stint as a cook for a terrorist group constituted `material support' that would render the already deported man ineligible for asylum." The Court granted the U.

Read more

Apps Open for Guadalajara Program Jan 8-13, 2027

Urban Institute: Impacts of Heightened Immigration Enforcement on Children’s Education by Hamutal Bernstein, Diana Guelespe, Laura Betancur, Julio Salas

From the Bookshelves: When Africa Comes to America How the Next Wave of Immigrants Will Transform the United States by Neeraj Kaushal

Law360: BREAKING: Justices To Weigh If Cooking For Terrorists Bars Asylum