Criticism Rises Against Biden Administration Policy on Immigration Judges’ Speech
Senator Chuck Grassley has accused the Biden administration of attempting to silence immigration judges who speak out about challenges within the immigration court system. Grassley believes that the recent directive from the Justice Department is an effort to curb free speech among federal workers.
The newly implemented policy restricting immigration judges from publicly expressing their views has faced criticism for potentially limiting transparency and accountability in the immigration court system. This marks a significant departure from the previous practice of allowing judges to openly discuss matters related to their work.
Senator Grassley expressed his concerns to Attorney General Merrick Garland in a letter, highlighting how the directive could be a way to suppress criticism of the government’s handling of immigration issues, particularly the backlog of cases in the immigration court system.
The president of the judges’ union, Judge Tsankov, who has been vocal about challenges in the immigration court system, refrained from commenting on the new policy following its issuance by the Justice Department, citing the restrictions in place.
The decision to restrict immigration judges’ speech has not been well-received by various groups, including the International Federation of Professional & Technical Engineers, which described the move as a setback for the Biden administration. The controversy surrounding the policy has sparked debates on free speech and government transparency, with critics arguing that it limits federal workers’ ability to raise important issues.
Senator Grassley has called for a review of the directive by the Justice Department to ensure that it upholds whistleblower rights and aligns with legal standards. He emphasized the need for transparency and urged the department to share details of the policy with his office for accountability purposes and to safeguard federal workers’ rights to express protected speech.
