The U.S. Pentagon has authorized the deployment of military lawyers to serve as temporary immigration judges in a move aimed at expediting deportation cases, signaling a sharper edge in the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown.
According to a memo reviewed by the Associated Press, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth approved the transfer of up to 600 military attorneys to the Department of Justice. The lawyers, both military and civilian, will undergo two weeks of training before presiding over cases. The first batch of 150 is expected to be identified by next week.
Under U.S. law, only immigration judges can revoke green cards or issue final removal orders for individuals who have been in the country for more than two years. The Pentagon’s involvement is intended to ease the mounting backlog of cases that has strained the immigration court system.
The move comes amid reports that Washington has been holding quiet negotiations with more than 50 countries, including several in Africa, to facilitate the return of deportees considered undesirable by their home governments. Kenyan nationals are among those affected. Earlier this year, more than 1,200 Kenyans in the U.S. were issued with final removal orders after exhausting all legal avenues, placing them in line for deportation by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
The crackdown has extended beyond the courts. Just four days ago, the administration unveiled sweeping housing reforms that could lock undocumented immigrants out of public housing support. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), under Secretary Scott Turner, has directed all public housing authorities to compile detailed reports on beneficiaries, including proof of citizenship or lawful status.
The tightening policies are already forcing difficult decisions. Last month, Samuel Kangethe, a Kenyan man who had lived in the U.S. for 16 years, opted to return home voluntarily, fearing deportation under the new rules.
As immigration enforcement intensifies, the Pentagon’s unprecedented role in deportation proceedings underscores the administration’s determination to leverage every arm of government in addressing undocumented migration an approach that has sparked both support and criticism across the political divide.
