Immigration courts nationwide are holding large-scale “mega masters” hearings that bundle 100 or more cases into single dockets, often on just days’ notice. Research shows the tactic is designed to ramp up deportations, with judges having very little time to consider each case. Practitioners in Vermont, Massachusetts, and beyond are reporting that clients — many unrepresented — are receiving removal orders in absentia because they never received adequate notice of the rescheduled hearings.
What changed
Since May 2026, immigration courts have been scheduling “mega master” hearings with over 100 people called in at once, often with little to no advance notice. Typically, master calendar hearings involve 20 to 30 cases and are held ahead of individual calendar hearings. The tactic involves rescheduling large numbers of immigration court cases from hearings months into the future to dates in just days or weeks.
The EOIR spokesperson said courts are prepared to conduct larger group-like hearings as needed and that scheduling adjustments are made “to ensure cases do not languish”. However, the data tells a different story. According to researcher analysis of April and May data, about 30,000 cases were completed in mega masters hearings nationwide, of which 65% were ordered removed, and 85% of those orders were made when the respondent was not present.
Why it matters
Hearings are being moved up suddenly, and anyone who misses theirs — whether they didn’t know the date changed, got there late, or couldn’t hear their name called in a packed courthouse — is almost certainly receiving a deportation order on the spot. These new hearings largely target people without lawyers representing them, and those who show up late or not at all are receiving removal orders, further truncating due process.
The compressed timeline also gives you and your clients dramatically less time to prepare for individual merits hearings. Some respondents had their evidentiary hearings moved up from 2027 or 2028 to August, September, and October of the same year, shrinking the window for evidence gathering and witness coordination. Even the administration’s efficiency gains may backfire: practitioners worry that hasty in absentia orders will generate a surge of appeals, further clogging the system.
Way forward
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Monitor your local docket aggressively. Check EOIR’s online case search system daily if you have cases at courts known to use mega masters (Chelmsford, Fort Snelling, and others). Call the court clerk to confirm hearing dates haven’t shifted without notice.
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Pre-emptive service of process and client contact. Send written notice to clients at multiple addresses and secure their cell phone numbers. Confirm receipt and understanding of hearing dates—especially if dates move. A missed hearing due to inadequate notice may support a motion to reopen.
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Prepare in absentia relief now. For clients already hit with removal orders in absentia, file a motion to reopen under 8 C.F.R. § 1003.2(a) claiming lack of proper notice or excusable neglect. Document the timing gap between the original scheduled date and the rescheduled date.
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Coalition documentation. If you’re seeing patterns of inadequate notice or due process violations in your jurisdiction, report them to the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), local legal aid organizations, and immigrant advocacy groups. Class action potential may exist.
Disclaimer
This article is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. We are a software and publishing company, not a law firm. Consult a licensed immigration attorney to assess how mega masters scheduling affects your individual case. EOIR policy can change without notice; verify the current procedures and removal statistics against the primary source linked above.