National Association of Immigration Judges

The National Association of Immigration Judges (NAIJ) is a voluntary organization of United States Immigration Judges.

Our mission is to promote independence and enhance the professionalism, dignity, and efficiency of the Immigration Courts, which are the trial-level tribunals where removal proceedings initiated by the Department of Homeland Security are conducted.

We work to improve our court system through educating the public, legal community and media, testimony at congressional oversight hearings, and advocating and lobbying for immigration court reform.

On March 6, 2026, Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren (CA-18) introduced the Real Courts, Rule of Law Act of 2026 along with Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Jamie Raskin (MD-08), Courts Subcommittee Ranking Member Hank Johnson (GA-04), and Congressman Dan Goldman (NY-10). The legislation would transition the nation's immigration court system into an independent judiciary. Currently, immigration judges are appointed by the Attorney General. As employees of the Department of Justice, immigration judges may be directed to adjudicate cases based on the policies and priorities of the governing administration.

“The National Association of Immigration Judges (NAIJ) supports Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren’s Real Courts, Rule of Law Act, establishing an independent immigration court," said Jeremiah Johnson, Executive Vice President of the National Association of Immigration Judges Executive Vice President. "An Article I court protects judicial independence, shields decision-making from political pressure, strengthens public trust, and ensures that every case is decided fairly and impartially under the rule of law, not based on political preferences. It is time to stabilize the Rule of Law in an unstable and ever-changing immigration system. Now is the time to secure the integrity of our legal immigration system. The stakes are too high to ignore. We need Real Courts and Real Law.”