Immigration Judges Face Investigation

In astrongly worded memo, U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales has told thenation’s 215 immigration courts the Justice Department will investigate the wayjudges treat people who appear in their courtrooms.

The review was prompted by “reports of immigration judges who fail totreat aliens appearing before them with appropriate respect and considerationand who fail to produce the quality of work that I expect from employees fromthe Department of Justice,” Gonzales wrote.

“While I remain convinced that most immigration judges ably andprofessionally discharge their difficult duties, I believe there are some whoseconduct can aptly be described as intemperate or even abusive and whose workmust improve,” he wrote.

Gonzales’ decision underscores the growing tension between federal judgesand the immigration courts. Appellate judges across the nation, especially onthe 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, which hears the bulk of the nation’simmigration cases, have been sharply critical of the way immigration judgescomport themselves.

Source: Los Angeles Daily Journal, Jan. 11, 2006
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