New ‘Mega Master’ Hearings in Miami Immigration Court Cause Long Lines
Long lines have become common at Miami Immigration Court due to a new Trump administration tactic called ‘mega master’ calendar hearings. This change aims to quickly deport people and has caused frustration and confusion.
Yerandy Gonzalez, facing a lengthy line, expressed his disbelief as he observed hundreds of people waiting on a humid Tuesday morning. Many of them are attending their first court hearing.
Avene Jeanite, a 52-year-old Haitian man, stands ready for his appointment. Previously, entrance was simpler, but the current procedure involves a line stretching several blocks.
This new tactic was introduced by the Trump administration to expedite deportations. Previously, judges handled about 36 cases per day. Now, they often see over 100 cases simultaneously, which officials claim helps with backlog but critics argue accelerates unfair deportations.
David Wilson, vice chair of the American Immigration Lawyers Association’s immigration court committee, described this approach as chaotic. Cramming numerous immigrants into one docket leads to delays in sending notices and difficulties finding legal representation. An increased no-show rate occurs as a result.
A Justice Department spokesperson stated that addressing the immigration court backlog is a high priority. Meanwhile, the Executive Office for Immigration Review plans to keep adjusting schedules to ensure timely and lawful handling of cases.
The result of these mega master hearings is an increase in in-absentia deportation orders. The legal tech platform bklg reports that in July, over 54,000 immigrants nationwide were ordered deported for missing court hearings. This is similar to 56,000 in June, both reflecting a 60% rise recently.
The Miami court alone saw orders spike from 1,383 in May to 2,886 in July, a 108% increase.
Crammed Courtrooms, Confusion, and Frustration
On a busy day in courtroom 24, Judge Xavier Racine addressed around 30 people at once, informing them of their rights and setting new hearings. Other judges scheduled hearings quickly, sometimes within two weeks.
Three main reasons contributed to the explosion of Miami’s immigration court docket. The Trump administration arrests record numbers of immigrants monthly, advances court dates, and compels appearances for cases previously deemed low priority.
Yeriné, a Venezuelan mother, had her appointment rescheduled from May 2027 to an earlier date. She expressed her fear about this massive docket, worried about people failing to reach hearings in time.
Billy Botch from the American Friends Service Committee reported operational issues due to these changes. Late arrivals occur as people wait for hours in line.
Botch stated the correlation is undeniable. With more people in proceedings on short notice and fewer resources, more removal orders are inevitable.