Immigration courts are operating at an unprecedented pace, significantly increasing deportation orders by shortening hearing lead times and scheduling "mega master hearings." This approach aims to tackle a long-standing backlog but has led to a dramatic rise in immigrants missing court dates and receiving deportation orders, with some valid asylum claims being closed before adjudication.

The number of "mega" master hearings, where dozens or even hundreds of cases are assigned to a single judge daily, has tripled compared to the previous year, with over 1,300 such hearings held in June alone. Concurrently, the preparation time allotted for immigrants facing complex proceedings has been drastically reduced from approximately six months to just over a month. This combination of compressed timelines and packed hearing schedules is reportedly leading to missed appearances and a surge in deportation orders, with asylum claims often considered abandoned.

"The combination of collapsed lead times and packed hearing blocks is a schedule designed for people not to have their case heard," said Bartlomiej Skorupa, chief operating officer of Mobile Pathways, a nonprofit analyzing immigration court data. "The data shows valid claims are closed before being adjudicated."

Those advocating for stricter immigration enforcement view the expedited hearings as a necessary correction to a system plagued by delays. Andrew Arthur, a fellow at the conservative Center for Immigration Studies, stated, "There’s no credibility in the system that never reaches an end." However, Arthur also expressed concern about the potential for judicial burnout and the risk of denying due process.

The Executive Office for Immigration Review, which oversees immigration courts, acknowledged that judges are adjusting schedules to resolve cases more quickly, asserting that delays harm immigrants with valid claims and that deporting individuals without legal grounds to remain serves the public interest. The office stated that all cases are handled fairly and lawfully.

In practice, "mega" hearing days, defined by more than 50 cases on a judge's docket, have become much more frequent since mid-May. On a recent day in Harlingen, Texas, Immigration Judge Delia Gonzalez had about 90 cases scheduled. Despite over 20 individuals not appearing, she ran out of time to hear all cases, rescheduling some after individuals waited more than eight hours.

"There’s a real limit to how many cases a judge can hear with any care in one morning," said former immigration judge Elizabeth Young. "When you cram that many hearings into a single docket, you’re working through a list, not holding court."

Immigrants and their legal representatives have faced challenges in these accelerated proceedings. Some requested more time to gather evidence or prepare their cases, citing issues such as fraud by attorneys or unfamiliarity with filing procedures. However, judges have often denied these requests, with many cases concluding in under five minutes.

In one instance in Utah, Immigration Judge Brock Taylor recited a dozen names of individuals who failed to appear for their hearings, ordering them removed from the U.S. without the right to appeal, citing proper notification. In Chicago, an attorney reported that a client received a removal order after being unable to attend a hearing in Seattle due to a severe leg injury sustained in a vehicle accident.

The no-show rate for immigration court hearings nationwide has doubled, rising from approximately 20% at the start of 2025 to 40% by June, correlating with the shrinking notice times. Deportation orders have surged in parallel, increasing from nearly 33,000 in January 2025 to about 79,000 in June. The rate of cases considered abandoned has also risen significantly, now nearly five times the historical average since 2009.

"That’s a recipe for disaster, because more people are going to be ordered removed in absentia who truly have a valid case," said Katie Fleming, a director at Acacia Center for Justice. Advocates have also reported cases where individuals were issued deportation orders while inside the courthouse, having become confused about where to report.

Supporters of the accelerated process highlight its efficiency in reducing the immigration court backlog, which had grown substantially. The number of pending cases with the Executive Office for Immigration Review decreased from 3.7 million to 3.5 million in fiscal year 2025 and has continued to decline. "It is increasing the number of final orders that are going out, so that’s decreasing the backlog entirely," noted Arthur.

Attorneys representing immigrants are also struggling to keep up with the increased caseloads. One veteran immigration attorney described having nearly 20 cases called in a single day, a pace nearly 10 times his previous norm, expressing concern over due process.

This report includes contributions from Associated Press writers Elliot Spagat and corps member Mayes-Osterman, who reported from Chicago.