Chicago Immigration Court Becomes Epicenter for Rapid Deportation Orders
Chicago, Saturday, 1 August 2026.
Chicago’s immigration court issued over 6,000 in absentia removal orders in June 2026, leading the nation following accelerated mega hearings and the sudden firing of key judges.
Escalation of Enforcement Policies
Following a sweeping policy change that bypassed initial asylum interviews for up to 444,000 applicants, the U.S. immigration enforcement apparatus has accelerated further with a sharp rise in removal orders [4]. On Thursday, 30 July 2026, the Chicago Immigration Court summoned 125 individuals to a single courtroom, marking a peak in the use of large-scale hearings designed to process cases rapidly [1]. This surge coincides with the Trump administration’s return to office and a stated priority to reduce the immigration court backlog, which exceeded 3 million active pending cases as of late June 2026 [1][3]. The Department of Justice maintains that these measures are necessary to restore integrity to the system, contrasting current efforts with the Biden Administration’s handling of unvetted migrants [1].
Record Removal Orders in Chicago
Data tracked by legal advocates indicates that Chicago’s immigration court issued 6,012 in absentia removal orders in June 2026, the highest volume of any city in the United States [1]. This figure represents a significant increase from the 1,267 orders recorded in February 2026, calculated as a 374.507 percent rise over the four-month period [1]. Nationwide, absentia removal orders reached a record 53,808 in June 2026, a 54.955 percent increase from May 2026 [3]. These removals carry direct economic implications for regional labor supplies in sectors heavily reliant on immigrant workforce dynamics, such as construction and hospitality [1].
Implementation of Mega Master Hearings
The spike in removals is driven by the implementation of Mega Master hearings, a practice characterized by scheduling large groups of respondents simultaneously with minimal notice [3]. Immigration court observers report that this trend began emerging in May 2026, with some hearing lists exceeding 200 people [1]. In June 2026, the median lead time for non-detained master hearings dropped to 42 days, representing a 73 percent decrease from April 2026 levels [3]. Legal advocates argue this compression of timelines contributes to high absentia rates, as individuals often miss court due to mail delays or confusion in crowded courtrooms [1].
Termination of Immigration Judges
Amidst the surge in proceedings, the Trump administration fired two prominent immigration judges in Chicago, Eva Saltzman and Elizabeth Crites, on 30 July 2026 [2]. Judge Saltzman, who had served since 2016, noted she had anticipated termination for applying the law carefully rather than aligning with a hard-line agenda [2]. A Chicago Tribune analysis found that Judge Saltzman issued only 33 removal orders in June 2026, while some peers issued over 900 [2]. The Executive Office for Immigration Review declined to comment on the personnel terminations but affirmed its commitment to ensuring cases do not languish [1][2].
Due Process and Economic Outlook
Critics, including ACLU attorney Sam Cole, describe the current courtroom environment as chaotic, with individuals missing hearings due to logistical failures rather than intent [1]. Diana Rashid of The Resurrection Project stated the strategy appears designed to deport people quickly without due process [1]. As the federal push to accelerate deportation proceedings continues, the reduction in workforce availability may constrain labor supply in key industries dependent on immigrant labor [GPT]. The Justice Department asserts that reducing the backlog remains one of the highest priorities for this administration [1].