The Trump administration has increasingly made use of military personnel in its efforts to secure the border and combat illegal immigration.

Yet another example of that phenomenon came this week when Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth approved the use of military attorneys as immigration judges. 

Military and civilian lawyers to take on new role "as soon as practicable"

That's according to the Associated Press, which reported on Tuesday that it had gained access to a memo outlining the plan.

The document explains that 150 military and civilian attorneys will be sent by the Department of Defense (DOD) to the Department of Justice (DOJ) "as soon as practicable."

It further stated that the attorneys are being deployed at the DOJ's request. Their term of service there is scheduled to last no more than 179 days but this period can be renewed.

The official website of United States Customs and Immigration Services (USCIS) explains that unlike federal district judges, an immigration judge is not nominated by the president and confirmed by the Senate.

Instead, he or she is "appointed by the Attorney General to act as an administrative judge within the Executive Office for Immigration Review."

Head of American Immigration Lawyers Association slams memo

The Associated Press cited an unnamed White House official who indicated that the Trump administration is looking to resolve the long backlog of outstanding immigration cases.

The anonymous figure went on to insist that achieving this goal should be "a priority that everyone — including those waiting for adjudication — can rally around."

However, the wisdom of having military lawyers act as immigration judges is being questioned by Ben Johnson, who serves as executive director of the American Immigration Lawyers Association.

John suggested that the attorneys would not be qualified to function in their new role and suggested that bringing them in "as much sense as having a cardiologist do a hip replacement."

Ex-immigration judge: White House wants "to weaken the immigration courts"

"Expecting fair decisions from judges unfamiliar with the law is absurd. This reckless move guts due process and further undermines the integrity of our immigration court system," he added.

Jennifer Peyton previously served as a supervising immigration judge in Chicago before being fired earlier this year, and she also voiced criticism.

Peyton pointed to the possibility of an ulterior motive, telling the Associated Press, "None of it makes sense unless you were intentionally trying to weaken the immigration courts."