The Justice Department intends to take dozens of immigration cases from a judge who is known for delaying deportation orders. It is partly because of his implied criticism of Attorney General Jeff Sessions, according to the union which represents immigration judges, on Wednesday.
According to CNN on Tuesday, the Justice Department replaced Philadelphia immigration judge, Steven Morley on a single case by an assistant chief immigration judge in July, which resulted in the deportation of an undocumented immigrant. Assistant Chief Immigration Judge, Jack Weil, told Morley that some of his comments during the case were viewed as criticisms of decisions made by the Attorney General and the Board of Immigration Appeals, as well as being unprofessional.
The cases dealt with young undocumented immigrants and the issue of whether the government gave them adequate notice about hearings they did not attend, according to the grievance that the National Association of Immigration Judges has filed. Weil also allegedly informed Morley that he should have either terminated the case or deported the immigrant himself.
The grievance is the most public spat yet between Sessions and the union, which represents around 350 immigration judges in the US, with the former focusing on the immigration courts that fall under his purview. Many immigration judges have taken issue with Trump administration policies, which they say interfere with the conducting of impartial and fair court proceedings. Immigration judges, unlike federal judges, are employed by the Justice Department and authority over their hiring, rulings, and management of their performance measures lies with the Attorney General.