The New Orleans immigration court appears to be one of the latest to dramatically increase the number of hearings immigration judges oversee each day – a new tactic by the Trump administration’s Department of Justice to accelerate deportation decisions. This shift to “mega master” hearings—combining 100+ respondents into a single proceeding—is now occurring at multiple courts nationwide and requires immediate adjustment to your case management and client communication strategy.
What changed
Immigration courts are holding large master calendar hearings, which are being called “mega masters” and can include more than 100 people. Prior to the Trump administration’s recent changes to master calendar hearings, respondents who appeared in immigration court without a lawyer were often granted more time to find legal representation before submitting complex legal documents.
That grace period is gone. Court watchers spoke with immigrants who had master calendar hearings scheduled for future dates that were canceled and moved up to Monday. Abrupt changes to hearing dates can result in migrants missing court and receiving deportation orders “in absentia.” Last month the U.S. Department of Homeland Security proposed a new rule to increase the fine for receiving a removal order in absentia from just over $5,130 to $18,000.
The New Orleans court held its first mega masters on June 1–2, 2026. At the conclusion of one hearing Monday afternoon, a judge ordered 40 “in absentia” deportation orders for people who failed to appear. Another judge issued 33 deportation orders in an afternoon session Tuesday.
Why it matters
Notice and compliance failure. Most of the people called for hearings on Monday did not have legal representation. Courts changed the hearing dates between nine and 35 days before the mega master date—far shorter than the 30+ days immigrants typically expect before a rescheduled hearing. Many respondents miss court simply because mail doesn’t arrive in time or the notice goes to an old address.
Automatic deportation for non-appearance. Unlike criminal defendants, immigrants in deportation proceedings — which fall under federal civil law — are not entitled to an attorney if they cannot afford one. When they fail to appear at a mega master, the judge routinely enters an in absentia removal order without hearing any defense. Abrupt changes to hearing dates can result in migrants missing court and receiving deportation orders “in absentia.” “There’s fines and you lose access to all kinds of remedies in the future, so you can’t just try again.”
Court logistics overwhelm individual attention. Immigrant rights groups say the mega masters disrupt that process and make it more likely that people will forfeit their right to fight deportation. Judges processing 100+ cases in a few hours have no time to answer individualized questions or explain complex procedural requirements to self-represented respondents.
Court observer access is restricted. National Immigration Project observers who were at the New Orleans Immigration Court to observe proceedings on Monday afternoon were not admitted into courtrooms, instead sitting in the court’s waiting area. They were told there was not enough space for court watchers and therefore only immigrants and their attorneys — if they had them — were allowed into the actual courtroom.
Way forward
-
Monitor EOIR’s online portal obsessively. Do not rely on mail notice. Check https://www.eoir.justice.gov/ weekly—or more often—for any client with a pending removal case. Hearing dates may shift without mailed notice.
-
Contact all clients by phone and SMS immediately. Send a reminder that their hearing date may have changed and instruct them to call your office or text if they receive any notice from immigration court. Document all contact attempts.
-
Prepare for compressed pleading deadlines. If your client receives a mega master notice, assume they have 2–4 weeks (not 4–8 weeks) to file a written pleading or basis for the judge’s next question. Begin drafting immediately.
-
Brief clients on the in absentia removal order trap. Explain that missing a rescheduled hearing—even by one day—results in an automatic deportation order that may bar re-entry for years and triggers the $18,000 fine if they are later detained by ICE. Confirm receipt of this warning in writing.
Disclaimer
This article is not legal advice. We are a news and information service, not a law firm. Immigration policy and procedure change without notice, and immigration court practices vary by location. Always verify current requirements by consulting the primary source linked above, checking EOIR’s official website, and consulting with a licensed immigration attorney in your jurisdiction.