SCHNEIDER, DURBIN, KRISHNAMOORTHI, ILLINOIS DEMOCRATIC DELEGATION CALL ON TRUMP ADMINISTRATION TO END MASS IMMIGRATION HEARINGS SCHEDULING UP TO 185 PEOPLE AT A TIME

WASHINGTON, DC - Congressman Brad Schneider (IL-10) joined U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL-08), a senior member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, along with 12 of their Illinois colleagues in sending a letter to Attorney General Todd Blanche calling on the Trump Administration to end its use of so-called "mega master" immigration hearings, mass proceedings in which as many as 185 noncitizens can be called to court on a single docket. The lawmakers warn that the Department of Justice (DOJ) is intentionally overcrowding dockets with little notice to immigrants in an effort to increase removal orders and advance the Trump Administration's mass deportation campaign.

The other signers of the letter were U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Representatives Danny Davis (D-IL-07), Jonathan Jackson (D-IL-01), Delia Ramirez (D-IL-03), Jesús G. "Chuy" García (D-IL-04), Nikki Budzinski (D-IL-13), Sean Casten (D-IL-06), Mike Quigley (D-IL-05), Eric Sorensen (D-IL-17), Bill Foster (D-IL-11), Jan Schakowsky (D-IL-09), and Robin Kelly (D-IL-02).

In the letter, the lawmakers write:

"Through these hearings, the Department of Justice's (DOJ) Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) is intentionally overcrowding dockets with little notice to immigrants in an effort to manufacture significant numbers of removal orders and advance the Administration's mass deportation campaign. Reports suggest that DOJ is calling as many as 185 noncitizens to court on a single docket, an action designed to drive mass deportations through chaos and confusion."

In May, DOJ's EOIR instituted a policy requiring judges in non-detained immigration courts to conduct master calendar hearings for 100 individuals twice per week while also maintaining their previously scheduled dockets and individual merits hearings. Many of those appearing have never been inside a courtroom, are unrepresented, do not speak English or Spanish fluently, do not understand the requirements of immigration proceedings, and are seeking asylum. In Chicago, the median notice time given to immigrants to appear in court fell from 229 days in May to just 34 days in June.

The lawmakers continue:

"Courtrooms handling upwards of 150 respondents in a judge's morning docket raise serious concerns about whether individuals are receiving a meaningful opportunity to be heard. Dozens of unrepresented respondents appear in a single hearing, in courtrooms designed to accommodate approximately 25 individuals. This limits meaningful opportunities for them to understand their rights, seek legal representation, or even obtain adequate translations while in the hearing."

The lawmakers also warn about mega master hearings involving children, particularly unaccompanied children who may have already experienced trauma, abuse, and exploitation and have limited access to legal counsel. These proceedings can make it harder for unaccompanied children to understand what is happening, ask questions, identify errors, or communicate with attorneys, advocates, or caregivers.

In Illinois, the letter places the mega master hearings alongside other elements of the Trump Administration's mass deportation campaign, including Operation Midway Blitz, the attempted deployment of the National Guard in Chicago, and repeated attempts to withhold federal funding based on policy disagreements. The lawmakers argue that mega master hearings at the Chicago Immigration Court are the latest example of policies prioritizing enforcement and deportation quotas over due process while creating fear, confusion, and uncertainty for Illinois communities.

The members requested responses by September 1, 2026, including answers to the following questions:

1. In light of policy changes regarding preliminary asylum interviews, what procedures is DOJ using to ensure that each asylum applicant receives a full and fair evaluation of the merits of their claim?
2. What factors account for the significant reduction in hearing notice periods between May and June 2026 in immigration courts?
3. What steps are being taken to ensure respondents in immigration court receive adequate notice of their proceedings?
4. What is the appropriate process for a respondent in immigration court to request additional time to obtain an attorney?
5. What measures is DOJ taking to ensure that unrepresented respondents are afforded adequate due process, including having sufficient notice to appear before an immigration court?
6. How is the DOJ ensuring that the current immigration court system has adequate personnel, meets courtroom capacity needs, and provides staff with the proper administrative resources to manage these increased caseloads and to ensure due process for every noncitizen respondent?
7. In response to a question for the record from Senator Padilla after your Senate Judiciary Committee nomination hearing, you stated that all master calendar hearings are conducted "fully in accordance with the applicable law…." Please specify what applicable laws were referred to in this response.
8. In your response to Senator Padilla, you also stated that when individuals appearing at mega master hearings have "specific questions or concerns, immigration judges will hear those cases individually as appropriate." What are the protocols or policies in place to ensure respondents appearing at mega master hearings be heard? How should a respondent request that a case be heard "individually"?

The lawmakers conclude:

"We urge the Administration to discontinue practices that undermine due process, including the use of mega master hearings. Instead, the Administration should ensure that asylum seekers receive fair and meaningful hearings and uphold the integrity of our nation's immigration system."

The letter from the members is available here.