New DOJ Hiring Push Uses 'Deportation Judge' Posting Despite Role Being Legally Classified as 'Immigration Judge'

The Department of Justice is promoting new openings for "deportation judges," even though the federal government's official job classification for the position remains "immigration judge."

The advertisements, circulated this week by both the Justice Department and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, are part of the administration's broader effort to expand immigration court staffing during an intensified enforcement push.

In a post on X, Noem wrote that "the Trump Administration is calling on YOU to join @TheJusticeDept as a Deportation Judge," listing a salary range of $159,951 to $207,500 and noting 70 nationwide locations. A DOJ recruitment ad echoed that language, urging applicants to "become a deportation judge" and "define America for generations." Both ads describe the role as determining "whether an alien has to leave the United States or gets to stay."

However, the federal hiring portal still lists the position under its legal title, "immigration judge." The Justice Department did not respond to a request by The Guardian for comment about the discrepancy.

Earlier this year, the Executive Office for Immigration Review loosened requirements so that any licensed attorney could serve as a temporary immigration judge, prompting a recruitment wave that includes military lawyers. The administration has also dismissed dozens of judges during their probationary periods, an unusual pattern that has added strain to an already backlogged system, as a recent sprawling NPR report points out.

The findings from the report reveal that at least 70 judges have been fired or pushed out since February, many while actively presiding over hearings. Several were removed after two years on the bench, a point at which judges are typically converted to permanent status. Many of those dismissed had backgrounds in immigrant defense rather than in federal enforcement agencies.

With more than 125 judges lost this year to firings and resignations, the administration has sought to rebuild the corps. Recent hiring classes have leaned heavily toward candidates with prior government or DHS experience. NPR found that ICE and DHS alumni now make up the largest share of judges still on the bench.

The latest recruitment effort continues that trend, advertising broad authority to "combat fraud" and ensure that only migrants with "legally meritorious claims" remain in the country. While the ads refer to "deportation judges," the official classification — and the authority granted under federal law — continues to reside with immigration judges appointed by the attorney general.