Riley B. | Red Phoenix correspondent | California–
Seventeen months into Trump’s second term, the immigration system is straining itself in every facet and every battleground. Hundreds of immigration judges have resigned or been fired, to be replaced with those more likely to deny asylum and to deport people en masse. These include military judges, former prosecutors, and right-wing, anti-immigration forces. A current job posting says, “Help write the next chapter of America. Apply today to become a deportation judge. Define America for Generations.” While the courts are packed with fascists, the court process itself is being destroyed. In order to achieve their anti-worker goals, broaden the ever-present class warfare, and alleviate the burden on the judicial system, the ruling class has now introduced the “Mega Master” hearing.
The formal deportation process is long and complex. Immigration lawyers seek to prove that their clients are eligible for certain visas or need asylum from their home countries. This process calls for many pages of documents to state facts, attempt to prove the facts, cite existing law, cite precedent, make legal arguments, and paint the client as a valued member of the community. This is expensive but the only chance for many to not have their entire lives upended through deportation. Many good lawyers have been stretching their capacity for over a year, even while the cost of services for even “short cases” rises beyond what most working class people can afford to begin with. Other people try to scam immigrants by posing as lawyers, agreeing to work outside their area of practice, or leaving clients waiting months for essential paperwork.
While the legitimate lawyers face overwork and burnout, the cost of living increases, and the fear of “lawyer scams” rises, the government seeks to exploit this crisis situation by taking advantage of those who cannot manage to buy adequate representation.
Master Calendar Hearings are the first formal hearings in the context of a deportation in customary procedure. In these hearings, the judge is supposed to determine if the defendant needs an interpreter and/or lawyer and then plan the next steps towards the resolution of the case.
In May 2025, ICE began to disrupt this procedure by using immigration hearings as an opportunity to kidnap people who were already going through the court process. In response, organizers began observing these public hearings. They found that judges were rushing the cases, seemingly to meet deportation quotas. Instead of trying to guarantee a fair trial, they used the Master Hearing to try coerce unrepresented immigrants into admitting that they were (‘legally’) deportable. As this made a mockery of our so-called “democracy,” courts have been trying to conceal their schedules to hide hearings from the public. Federal agents have also stalked and intimidated court observers, to the point that court watch is now considered as a high-risk form of activism.
The “Mega Master” hearings triple the problem. Where judges once tried to jam through 36 cases in a day, they now schedule over 100. Since it’s not really possible to see that many people, or safely fit them in one courtroom, the courts attempt to induce rescheduled hearings. Abruptly rescheduling them to as far out as 2029, especially targeting people without lawyers.
People who don’t notice that their hearing jumped forward three years have their case closed, with an absentia removal order calling for the deportation. The same fate awaits people who are late for the roll call, because the parking and security aren’t fit to handle so many people.
As the crowding and time pressure causes workers appearing for their court dates to panic, they are sometimes approached by scam artists who try to get them to sign forms that they don’t understand. These lackeys of a corrupt system try to trick immigrants into harming their immigration cases and facing accelerated deportation. The legal system should not respect forms that were signed without being understood, but the current climate seems to accept anything that harms an immigrant.
At the same time that immigration cases are moved up three years to try to catch working people off guard, those suffering in ICE concentration camps have their hearings endlessly pushed back. The fascists seek to meet deportation quotas while simultaneously keeping the camps full!
Here are some tips for protecting oneself against common “Mega Master” Hearing traps, thanks to Pedro Chavez on Substack:
- Arrive Significantly Earlier Than 8:30 AM: Because of the unprecedented number of people scheduled for the same time, security lines at federal buildings will be longer than usual. Plan to arrive by at least 7:30 AM (or earlier) to clear the metal detectors and find your specific courtroom.
- Solve the Parking Crisis in Advance: Do not assume you will find a spot in the courthouse lot. Research nearby public parking garages or consider using a ride-share service to avoid being late because you were circling the block. Competition for parking will be fierce with 100+ respondents and their attorneys arriving simultaneously.
- Bring Every Piece of Paperwork: Carry your Notice to Appear (NTA) and any other mail you have received from the court. If you have moved, bring proof that you filed a Change of Address (Form EOIR-33) to show the judge you have been diligent.
- Secure Your Right to an Interpreter: If you are not 100% comfortable proceeding in English, you have a right to an interpreter at no cost. State clearly to the judge: “I need an interpreter in [your language].”
- Dress and Act Professionally: Once inside, stay quiet and attentive. In a room of 100 people, the judge needs to see that you are present and respectful when your name is finally called.
- Request Your “Good Cause” Continuance: If you do not have a lawyer, this is the time to ask for one. Under 8 C.F.R. § 1003.29, you can ask for a continuance for “good cause” to find legal counsel. Be prepared to receive a pro bono legal list and a new date.
- Confirm Your Next Date Before Leaving: The noise and crowd make it easy to miss instructions. Before you walk out, ensure you have a written notice for your next hearing date. Do not leave the building without a physical record of when you are expected back.
On top of these tips, please remember to check up on your case frequently and never sign strange forms.
If pursuing legal representation, make sure that a lawyer specializes in “Deportation Defense” or “Removal Defense.” Verify that the lawyer is licensed and does not have a history of disciplinary action from the state bar or from the EOIR. Organizers are encouraged to help compile lists of good lawyers, bad lawyers, and known scammers. Keep in mind that notaries or “notarios” are not sufficient in the U.S. legal system, despite being so in some Latin American countries. Also, look out for scammers impersonating actual lawyers.
The American Party of Labor denounces the scapegoating of and violence against migrant workers. Chauvinism and racism have no place in human society. The fascist fantasy of a “great,” white America is complete neo-Nazism. Immigrants cannot be the cause of our country’s problems, because instability and crisis were always a feature of capitalism! We urge everyone to help protect our immigrant neighbors, from both the fascist agents in the streets and the fascist “judges” in the court rooms. As class conscious workers, we must fight against the oppression of our migrant neighbors. When we fight the oppression of the most vulnerable workers, we strengthen our ability to end all class exploitation. We will never quit. We will win.