December 5, 2025
Mr. Vargas (for himself, Ms. Velázquez, Ms. Norton, Mr. Soto, Ms. Clarke of New York, Ms. Meng, Mr. Krishnamoorthi, Mr. Peters, Ms. Chu, Mr. Lieu, Mr. Goldman of New York, Ms. Garcia of Texas, Mr. Carson, and Ms. Barragán) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary
To codify in statute the authorization of the Attorney General to appoint experienced immigration law experts as temporary immigration judges to reduce the number of pending cases in immigration courts.
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Temporary Immigration Judge Integrity Act
.
Sec. 2. Sense of Congress
It is the sense of Congress that—
(1)
the purpose of temporary immigration judges is not to replace permanent immigration judges or to serve in lieu of appointing permanent immigration judges; and
(2)
due to the complex nature and high-stakes consequences of the adjudication of immigration cases, immigration judges must have extensive knowledge and application of United States immigration laws.
Sec. 3. Temporary immigration judges
Section 240(b)(1) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1229a(b)(1)) is amended—
(1)
by striking The immigration judge shall administer
and inserting the following:
(A) In general
The immigration judge shall administer; and
(2)
by inserting after subparagraph (A), as redesignated, the following:
(B) Temporary immigration judges
(i) Appointment
The Attorney General is authorized to appoint, as temporary immigration judges for a renewable term not to exceed 6 months—
(I)
former members of the Board of Immigration Appeals or appellate immigration judges;
(II)
former immigration judges;
(III)
administrative law judges who are employed within, or have retired from, the Executive Office for Immigration Review;
(IV)
administrative law judges at another Federal agency who have at least ten years of experience, after being admitted to a State bar, in the field of immigration law, subject to the written consent of the head of such agency; and
(V)
attorneys at the Department of Justice who have at least 10 years of legal experience, after being admitted to a State bar, in the field of immigration law.
(ii) Scope of authority
Subject to clause (iii), each temporary immigration judge appointed pursuant to clause (i) shall have the same authority as an immigration judge to adjudicate assigned cases and administer immigration court matters, in accordance with the immigration laws.
(iii) Oversight; training
(I) In general
The Attorney General, in collaboration with the Chief Immigration Judge and Regional Chief Immigration Judges, shall establish management and training procedures that—
(aa)
assign caseloads to, and oversee the performance of, temporary immigration judges;
(bb)
evaluate the work product produced by such judges; and
(cc)
except as provided in subclause (II), ensure that temporary immigration judges receive—
(AA)
a minimum of 8 weeks of initial training; and
(BB)
ongoing training for at least 1 day during every 2 weeks of their temporary service.
(II) Exemption
Individuals described in subclause (I) or (II) of clause (i) shall be exempted from the training described in subclause (I)(cc) if their service as a temporary immigration judge begins not later than 2 years after the last day of their service as an immigration judge, an immigration appellate judge, or a member of the Board of Immigration Appeals.
(iv) Length of service
(I) In general
Temporary immigration judges may serve for up to 4 consecutive 6-month terms.
(II) Additional service
Temporary immigration judges who have reached the 2-year service limit described in subclause (I) shall not be reappointed to this temporary position until at least 3 years after the conclusion of their temporary service.