The number of NJ children ordered removed from the U.S has risen as the Trump administration prioritizes reducing immigration backlogs. Immigration advocates and attorneys report that Newark immigration court is processing minors in large group hearings with abbreviated continuances and limited legal support, resulting in a sharp rise in deportation orders.
What changed
Newark is the only federal court in New Jersey that hears cases involving immigrant youth. In the past three months, hearings in the Newark court include larger numbers of people and outcomes are rushed, with as many as 50 immigrants summoned for a single hearing, and some hearings rescheduled from 2028 to 2026.
The rate of deportation orders for children in the last six months is double the rate during the Biden administration. Over the past six months, 81% of children who received a case outcome in immigration court were required to depart from the United States, compared to 43% in the last six months of the prior administration.
Children are lumped into adult hearings, and the ongoing push to cycle larger numbers through “mega master hearings” in the immigration court has resulted in children and young adults — even those with legal pathways to immigration — being ordered to leave their homes and communities. “Suddenly, the way the court is operating, it feels like kids are on this expedited assembly line toward deportation,” said Priscilla Monico Marín, executive director of the New Jersey Consortium for Immigrant Children.
Why it matters
The structure and pace of Newark hearings directly affect your case strategy. Cases are being pushed through, kids are being given very short continuances to return, and that’s coupled with a shortage of legal providers. This means:
- Continuance requests are less likely to be granted for extended periods, forcing faster case preparation and expert development.
- Representation readiness is critical; unrepresented minors face removal orders at rates far higher than represented youth.
- Adult docket placement means children may not receive the procedural protections and judicial consideration intended for vulnerable minors, including heightened scrutiny for relief like Special Immigrant Juvenile Status or asylum.
- Timing of filings—especially cross-petitions, waivers, and stay applications—must account for accelerated schedules in which hearings are being moved forward by months.
Legal advocacy groups note that even children with viable legal pathways (including those potentially eligible for SIJS or other relief) are being ordered removed without adequate opportunity to present their cases.
Way forward
If you represent a minor in Newark immigration court:
- Front-load your case preparation. Assume you will receive a short continuance; develop evidence, expert declarations, and legal arguments immediately rather than over multiple hearing cycles.
- Document the child’s circumstances comprehensively at intake, including any indicia of abuse, abandonment, or neglect (relevant to SIJS eligibility), family relationships, and community ties.
- Monitor your hearing date actively through EOIR’s case tracking system and confirm the docket type; if your client is assigned to an adult docket or mega master hearing, consider requesting reassignment to a juvenile docket in writing ahead of time, citing best-practice standards.
- Coordinate with local legal service providers (e.g., the New Jersey Consortium for Immigrant Children) to understand current court practices, judge tendencies, and whether motion practice is viable given the accelerated schedule.
- Advise clients realistically about the current removal-order rate in Newark and the reduced opportunity for continuances; this informs settlement and appeal decisions.
Disclaimer
Fola Editorial is a software company, not a law firm, and this article is not legal advice. The information is current as of the publication date and reflects reporting from advocacy organizations and attorneys active in Newark immigration court. Immigration court practices, processing times, and case outcomes can change rapidly. Always verify the current status of the Newark court’s operations, docket practices, and hearing schedules by consulting the Executive Office for Immigration Review at https://www.justice.gov/eoir/newark, speaking with local immigration attorneys, and reviewing any guidance from organizations like the American Immigration Lawyers Association. Consult a licensed immigration attorney in your jurisdiction before taking any action on a pending case.