Immigration courts are reportedly holding "mega master" hearings with over 100 cases on the docket daily, a practice immigration attorneys say is a new tactic to speed up deportations.

These consolidated hearings represent a significant departure from typical proceedings, where master calendar hearings usually involve a handful of individuals. Master calendar hearings are the initial stage in deportation proceedings where immigrants are informed of their rights and the charges against them.

Attorneys describe these "mega masters" as occurring with little advance notice, sometimes consolidating cases that were previously scheduled months apart. One attorney with over two decades of experience stated he had never witnessed a hearing with 100 cases before, a stark contrast to the usual 10 to 15.

The Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR), which oversees immigration courts, acknowledged making "scheduling adjustments to ensure all cases are handled in a timely and lawful manner." The agency stated it "prioritizes the timely completion of all cases," arguing that "unnecessary delay hurts both aliens with meritorious claims and the American public who wish to see aliens with non-meritorious claims removed as quickly as possible."

Attorneys report that some scheduled hearings are being abruptly canceled and merged into these larger sessions. One lawyer represented a client whose hearing was moved up from July to the current day without notice, while they were in the process of preparing an application for relief. A court clerk reportedly informed her of a nationwide directive to advance master calendar hearings scheduled for July or later.

These developments have prompted the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) to issue guidance to its members, urging them to constantly monitor online case portals for sudden reschedulings. The association's Practice and Policy Counsel highlighted the concern over expedited proceedings.

The EOIR spokesperson also mentioned that the agency "continues to add new immigration judges," implying that increased judicial capacity would be used to manage the caseload efficiently. However, the rapid consolidation of cases raises concerns among legal advocates about due process and the ability of individuals to adequately prepare their defenses.

The practice of "mega master" hearings was first reported by NPR. The acceleration of deportation proceedings through such measures is seen by some attorneys as a key strategy of the current administration to process a high volume of immigration cases more rapidly.