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Trump Administration Fires Judges Over Deportation Rulings

4/17/2026

Summary

Story summary

The Trump administration fired immigration judges Roopal Patel and Nina Froes after they ruled against deportations involving activists Rümeysa Öztürk and Mohsen Mahdawi.
Patel says the firings are politically motivated to reshape the immigration bench toward mass deportations.
The administration has dismissed over 100 immigration judges since taking office.
Critics warn the moves threaten noncitizens’ First Amendment rights and due process, as Judge Blake Doughty ruled against Ya’akub Vijandre.

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Story summary

The Trump administration fired immigration judges Roopal Patel and Nina Froes after they ruled against deportations involving activists Rümeysa Öztürk and Mohsen Mahdawi.
Patel says the firings are politically motivated to reshape the immigration bench toward mass deportations.
The administration has dismissed over 100 immigration judges since taking office.
Critics warn the moves threaten noncitizens’ First Amendment rights and due process, as Judge Blake Doughty ruled against Ya’akub Vijandre.