Florida attorney Willy Allen III sounded the alarm on Friday, revealing that the U.S. government has recruited 120 new immigration judges who have been trained in just three to four weeks. Their primary mission, according to Allen, is to reject asylum claims and expedite deportations.
“If you take a closer look at the courts, you'll notice they've hired 120 new judges trained for three or four weeks specifically to deny cases,” Allen stated during his weekly immigration segment with Tania Costa.
Having personally appeared before these judges, Allen doesn’t speak from hearsay. He described his experience, stating, “They lack a solid grasp of the law and are essentially looking for reasons to deny and deport.”
Allen’s outlook is bleak: “I imagine it will be something very similar to what’s happening at the border,” he remarked.
Drastic Changes in Immigration Courts Under Scrutiny
Allen's warning aligns with a significant shift within the immigration court system under the Trump Administration. Over 100 seasoned judges were dismissed or pressured to retire since 2025, while the Board of Immigration Appeals shrunk from 28 to a mere 15 members.
To fill these gaps, the government appointed temporary judges, many of whom are military attorneys with little to no immigration law background, and they removed the ten-year experience requirement for the position.
Bloomberg Law highlighted in February 2026 that during their training, these new judges were advised to grant asylum “only in rare circumstances.” The National Association of Immigration Judges confirmed that the training period was slashed from nearly five weeks to just three.
Soaring Deportation Numbers Affecting Cuban Immigrants
The outcome has been a dramatic decrease in asylum approval rates, plummeting from 48% in February 2024 to under 5% in February 2025.
The situation is dire for Cuban immigrants in particular. ICE detentions have surged by 463% since October 2025, and approximately 42,000 Cubans face final deportation orders within the U.S.
Allen III’s warnings are not new. His father, Willy Allen, raised concerns in 2018 about judges who downplayed repression in Cuba, and in 2019 he documented a case in Louisiana where a judge denied asylum, claiming Cuba had “changed” under Díaz-Canel.
Legal Pathways Amidst Legal Hurdles
During the program, Allen III also addressed questions about the Cuban Adjustment Act involving secondary evidence like CBP-1 entry, third box, without parole or an I-94 form. He noted that while challenging, “there could be a legal argument that even without an I-94, it’s a legal entry,” depending on the specifics of the case.
What Allen III describes marks an unprecedented escalation of a trend that has long affected the Cuban community.
FAQ on Immigration Court Changes and Their Impact
Why were 120 new immigration judges hired?
The U.S. government hired these judges to expedite decisions on asylum claims and increase deportations, particularly under the Trump Administration's policies.
How has the training period for these judges changed?
The training period for new immigration judges was reduced from nearly five weeks to just three weeks, reportedly focusing on denying asylum claims.
What impact has the hiring of these judges had on asylum approval rates?
Asylum approval rates have dramatically decreased from 48% in February 2024 to less than 5% in February 2025.
How are Cuban immigrants particularly affected by these changes?
Cuban immigrants face a severe situation, with ICE detentions increasing by 463% and around 42,000 Cubans having final deportation orders in the U.S.