The Justice Department is reducing the number of judges on the Board of Immigration Appeals from 23 to 15. This means fewer judges will hear appeals from immigration court decisions.
Why it matters
The Board of Immigration Appeals is the highest administrative body for interpreting immigration law. Fewer judges means the board can process fewer cases, or each judge must handle more cases. This could lead to longer wait times for appeals or less thorough review of individual cases.
The signal
Watch for changes in the average time it takes for the Board of Immigration Appeals to issue decisions, or a rise in the backlog of pending cases.