The administration’s initiative to accelerate deportations has significantly increased the workload of immigration judges. This surge in cases has raised concerns among immigrant attorneys about potential violations of due process rights.

On June 3, a family was seen exiting the San Antonio Immigration Court. Immigration judges have begun conducting ‘mega immigration hearings,’ where they are required to hear as many as 100 cases daily. This change commenced this week in several major cities throughout the nation.

In San Antonio, Judge Cynthia LaFuente-Gaona now manages several dozen cases each day. Her courtroom is a place where individuals and families plead to continue their lives in the United States. This dramatic increase in caseload puts immense pressure on the judicial process.