Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has authorized deploying up to 600 military lawyers to the Justice Department to act as temporary immigration judges, according to a memo obtained by The Associated Press.
The memo, dated Aug. 27, states that groups of 150 attorneys—both military and civilian—will be sent “as soon as practicable,” with the first round of personnel expected to be identified by next week.
The deployment is at the Justice Department’s request, and the memo states that assignments will initially last up to 179 days, with the possibility of renewal.
When asked about the plan, a DOJ spokesperson referred inquiries to the Defense Department, while Pentagon officials directed questions to the White House. A White House official said Tuesday that the Trump administration is exploring multiple ways to address the growing backlog of immigration cases, including hiring more immigration judges, describing it as “a priority that everyone — including those waiting for adjudication — can rally around.”
