The immigration court system in New York City is experiencing significant changes, with at least six judges recently dismissed amid a growing backlog of cases. These terminations are part of a broader national trend, as the National Association of Immigration Judges reports that over 80 immigration judges have been removed since President Trump’s return to office on January 20.
In NYC, this purge affected veteran adjudicators including Judge David Kim and Judge Carmen Maria Rey Caldas, both of whom confirmed their dismissals to Gothamist. Kim, who faced an abrupt end to his tenure, was informed of his termination while actively hearing a case, while Rey Caldas was notified of her dismissal in late August. Both judges, having surpassed their probationary periods, are appealing their terminations through the Merit Systems Protection Board. The Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) has declined to publicly comment on these terminations.
As per THE CITY, Rey Caldas’s and Kim’s own immigrant backgrounds gave them a deep understanding of and commitment to a system now facing unexpected staff reductions and changing procedures. Judge David Kim, originally from South Korea, has been noted for his exceptionally high asylum grant rates, reaching 96% for petitions between 2019 and 2024, according to data from the Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse.
The backlog of cases has grown into a significant issue, with nearly 3.8 million cases pending by the end of July before EOIR announced a reduction of 447,000 cases. To address the backlog, the Trump administration has proposed using military lawyers as temporary judges. This approach contrasts with the dismissal of experienced immigration judges like Kim and Rey Caldas, raising concerns about the future of due process in immigration courts. Matt Biggs, President of the International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers, criticized the removals, arguing that they undermine the law, waste taxpayer dollars, and contribute to further delays in justice for both citizens and immigrants.
The courtroom environment has reportedly become increasingly tense, with both Rey Caldas and Kim describing the widespread stress caused by ICE officers arresting immigrants immediately after hearings, as they shared in interviews. Rey Caldas told Gothamist, "It created this unnecessary tension in the courtroom." He added, "It’s a lot of pressure on a system that wasn’t designed to bear this type of pressure."
