Immigration courts inside the Justice Department are drastically accelerating immigrants’ hearings and bunching them together with the goal of issuing more deportation orders. The tactic was shared with NPR by immigration attorneys and the American Immigration Lawyers Association. This shift in hearing structure has direct consequences for your case management strategy, notice obligations, and due-process defenses in removal proceedings.
What changed
Immigrants are now being scheduled for massive master calendar hearings — or “mega masters” — that include 100 or more people at a time, up from two or three dozen people previously typical for a first hearing. The practice has started in the Chicago, Boston, and Chelmsford, Mass., courts and is soon to start in the Dallas Immigration Court.
These hearings largely target people without lawyers, and those who show up late, or not at all, are receiving removal orders. Immigration attorneys worry that immigrants, especially those without a lawyer, may not know that hearing dates have been rescheduled for sooner dates; in some cases, little to no notice is issued by mail or electronically, leaving those not regularly checking their online accounts vulnerable to deportation.
Why it matters
Courts often lack enough seats for hearings with so many people at once, and the hearings are “almost like they are being designed to increase” how many people get deportation orders automatically. Most people in immigration court do not have a lawyer and are unlikely to see any benefits from faster scheduling.
The procedural risks are acute: When someone does not appear for their scheduled hearing, even by mistake, the judge can issue an official removal order that allows immigration officers to detain and deport the person. In a 100+ person hearing, you face crowded courtrooms, rushed adjudication, and heightened risk that pro se respondents miss their case call or do not receive adequate time to present defenses.
Way forward
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Monitor hearing dates proactively. Check EOIR’s online case management system frequently for schedule changes. Do not rely solely on mail notice. If you represent clients in Chicago, Boston, Chelmsford, or Dallas, assume accelerated dockets are in effect and verify hearing dates with the immigration court directly.
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Over-communicate with clients. Provide written, email, and phone confirmation of hearing dates and deadlines. For unrepresented clients you advise, ensure they understand the consequence of non-appearance in a large group hearing.
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Preserve due-process challenges. Document insufficient notice, inadequate courtroom facilities, and rushed adjudication. These may support motions to reopen or appeals if removal orders are issued in absentia or with truncated presentation time.
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If applicable, seek continuances or counsel appointments. Where due process is compromised by mega-master format, consider whether the case warrants a continuance motion or, if your client qualifies, a motion for appointed counsel under relevant standards.
Disclaimer
This article is not legal advice. It summarizes reporting about an operational change in immigration courts. The Executive Office for Immigration Review did not respond to the journalist’s request for comment. Policy and procedures can change without notice. Consult a licensed immigration attorney to assess your specific situation and verify the current status of hearing procedures in your jurisdiction by contacting the relevant immigration court directly.