The U.S. immigration court system gained 26 new adjudicators on Thursday, October 22, 2026, when the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) announced the swearing-in of 22 immigration judges and four temporary immigration judges, according to the Justice Department's EOIR notices page.

Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Executive Office for Immigration Review — Notices and Press Releases (Oct. 22, 2026)

Attorney General Todd Blanche appointed all 26, InUS News reported from the EOIR announcement. The investiture ceremony took place at the Department of Justice's National Advocacy Center in Columbia, South Carolina, where EOIR Acting Director Sirce E. Owen delivered remarks and Chief Immigration Judge Teresa L. Riley administered the oath of office.

Source: InUS News — Immigration Judges Gain 26 New Colleagues As EOIR Expands Corps

22New immigration judges sworn in on Oct. 22 — EOIR
4New temporary immigration judges sworn in the same day
47 + 6Immigration judges and temporary judges in the previous class, announced Sept. 24

Immigration judges are appointed by the Attorney General to preside over proceedings in the Justice Department's immigration court system. Their work includes deciding whether a person is removable from the United States and whether that person qualifies for relief or protection under federal immigration law, including asylum matters, detention and bond proceedings and adjustment-of-status cases, InUS News summarised from EOIR material.

Source: InUS News — Immigration Judges Gain 26 New Colleagues As EOIR Expands Corps

The new adjudicators undergo a formal training program before taking on their responsibilities. Under EOIR's training plan, initial training runs five consecutive weeks — classroom instruction in immigration law, procedure and judicial skills, an immigration law examination and practical exercises, followed by supervised work with a mentor judge in the assigned home court, with mentoring continuing for at least a year.

Source: InUS News — Immigration Judges Gain 26 New Colleagues As EOIR Expands Corps

The October class continues a year-long hiring effort: EOIR previously announced 47 immigration judges and six temporary judges on September 24, and further groups in May, June, July and August, the Justice Department's release list shows. The October 22 release does not provide a cumulative total for 2026 appointments.

Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Executive Office for Immigration Review — Notices and Press Releases (Oct. 22, 2026)

What this does — and does not — change

The announcement does not identify individual court assignments or start dates, and it does not change any existing hearing date, filing requirement, appeal right or eligibility standard. People with pending cases should keep following their latest official hearing notice.

What is solid

  • EOIR announced 22 immigration judges and four temporary immigration judges on Thursday, October 22, 2026 — Justice Department EOIR notices page.
  • Attorney General Todd Blanche made the appointments, and Chief Immigration Judge Teresa L. Riley administered the oath at the DOJ National Advocacy Center in Columbia, South Carolina — InUS News, from the EOIR announcement.
  • The release names no court assignments and announces no change to existing hearing dates.

What is only claimed

  • Whether the added judges will shorten waits in any particular court is not established by the announcement — EOIR gave no per-court assignments, start dates or processing-time promise, so any effect on individual cases remains to be seen.