Trump Administration Fires Judges Who Blocked Student Deportations

The Trump administration fired six immigration judges on April 10, 2026, including Massachusetts-based judges Roopal Patel and Nina Froes. The dismissals followed rulings by the judges to block the deportation of international students involved in pro-Palestinian activism. Judge Patel, based in Boston, ruled against the deportation of Rumeysa Ozturk, a Tufts University student whose visa was revoked by Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Judge Froes, based in Chelmsford, blocked the deportation of Mohsen Mahdawi, a Columbia University student and green card holder.

Both Patel and Froes were appointed by the Biden administration in 2024 and were serving probationary terms at the time of their termination. The Department of Justice defended the action, stating the Executive Office for Immigration Review must act when judges demonstrate "systematic bias." The Department is currently appealing both rulings to the Board of Immigration Appeals.

These firings are part of a wider effort to align immigration courts with the administration's enforcement agenda. The National Association of Immigration Judges reports that at least 113 judges have been fired since Donald Trump returned to office, while another 100 have resigned or retired. Representative Dan Goldman and the judges' union condemned the moves as a purge intended to remove judges who refuse to act as "rubber stamps" for a mass deportation agenda. Roopal Patel warned that these actions create a climate of fear that erodes judicial independence and due process.