- U.S. military legal officers to help reduce over 3.6 million pending immigration cases.
- Up to 600 military lawyers may be assigned as temporary immigration judges.
- Volunteers must have strong legal backgrounds and active bar membership.
The United States government is turning to its military legal experts in a bid to reduce the growing number of pending immigration cases.
According to reports retrieved by Eko Hot Blog this is following the pending cases which have now surpassed 3.6 million nationwide.
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In response to the mounting pressure on the immigration court system, the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) has announced plans to deploy military judge advocates and civilian attorneys to serve as temporary immigration judges.
This effort comes after years of case overload despite attempts by the Department of Justice (DoJ) to recruit more permanent judges.
According to the DoJ, nearly 1.8 million new immigration cases were added just last year, causing severe delays in processing asylum claims and other legal proceedings.
Under American law, even individuals who enter the country illegally are entitled to apply for asylum and must go through the court system.
Chief Pentagon spokesman, Sean Parnell, stated that the military is currently working with the Justice Department to identify qualified attorneys who can help ease the pressure on the immigration courts.
“These attorneys from the Department of Defense will support current operations by taking on immigration hearings as temporary judges,” he said.
In an internal communication, the Navy’s legal department has already begun seeking 100 volunteers including active-duty officers, reservists, and civilians to begin work as early as November for a six-month period.
However, reports indicate that the number of legal officers needed could rise significantly, with up to 600 military lawyers expected to be mobilised.
The Navy’s message emphasised that ideal candidates should have backgrounds in administrative or immigration law and prior experience as judges or in similar legal roles.
“We are looking for officers who show sound judgement, legal skill, and analytical ability,” the message read.
It also noted the importance of professionalism, impartiality, and strong communication skills.
Only those who are licensed attorneys in good standing with a state or the District of Columbia will be considered for the role.
