Eight immigration judges in New York City were shown the door on Monday by the Trump administration, a move that’s got everyone from union reps to Justice Department insiders buzzing.

In a nutshell, this latest round of dismissals at 26 Federal Plaza is part of a nationwide push to speed up deportations, following earlier job cuts and intensifying the debate over the fairness of immigration courts under President Trump’s hardline policies.

The firings aren’t new—about 90 judges have been let go across the country this year, including six in New York City before this week.

Federal Plaza Becomes Ground Zero for Cuts

Now, with Monday’s eight dismissals, the staff at 26 Federal Plaza—one of three immigration courts in the city and a hub for Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations—has taken a serious hit, dropping from 34 judges to a much leaner roster.

Among those ousted was Amiena A. Khan, the assistant chief immigration judge who oversaw operations at the Plaza, a dismissal that raises eyebrows about who’s next on the chopping block.

Confirmation of these cuts came from both a National Association of Immigration Judges official and a Justice Department source who preferred to stay anonymous, though a spokeswoman for the Executive Office for Immigration Review clammed up when pressed for details.

Pattern of Dismissals Sparks Concern

Earlier firings this year, including that of Carmen Maria Rey Caldas—a naturalized citizen from Spain who became a judge in 2022 after years as an advocate—suggest the administration might be targeting those seen as soft on deportation cases.

Ms. Rey Caldas, who faced flak from conservatives for past criticism of ICE, shared her thoughts on the chilling effect of these moves: “All of the judges are now sitting speculating about whether they’re next, and the impact that that may have on their ability to remain impartial and do their jobs fairly.”

Her words paint a grim picture, but let’s be real—when the administration’s goal is to clear backlogs and enforce borders, a little fear might just be the push some judges need to align with policy over personal leanings.

Protests and Chaos Fuel Tensions

Adding fuel to the fire, Monday’s firings came just two days after nearly 200 protesters rallied in Lower Manhattan against a potential ICE raid, a demonstration that reportedly irked federal officials.

The scene at 26 Federal Plaza has been anything but calm for months, with chaotic arrests by masked agents during routine check-ins sparking outrage among families and bystanders.

Incidents like a video journalist’s injury in September and a federal officer shoving a woman days earlier outside a courtroom have turned the Plaza into a lightning rod for Trump’s immigration crackdown.

Administration’s Broader Deportation Push

President Trump has made no secret of his intent to ramp up deportations in New York, blasting the city’s sanctuary policies that curb cooperation between local police and federal immigration authorities.

His rhetoric has sharpened since two National Guard members were shot near the White House by a gunman identified as an Afghan national, with Trump taking to Truth Social to vow a halt on migration from certain nations to let the system “recover.”

While his supporters see this as a necessary stand for national security, critics argue it’s creating a culture of fear—yet with only 36 of the 90 fired judges nationwide replaced, including just two in New York, the administration seems to be doubling down on efficiency over empathy.