McConnell: We need more immigration judges

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said on Wednesday that more federal judges are needed to help with immigration cases.

“I think we have to follow the law, and I think we clearly do need some more judges,” McConnell said during a Politico Playbook event when asked about President Trump’s suggestion that illegal immigrants be removed without going through the judicial process for deportation.

{mosads}

Trump has repeatedly criticized proposals that would increase the number of immigration judges as part of narrow legislation to deal with immigrant families detained after crossing the U.S.-Mexico border.

He tweeted on Sunday that “when somebody comes in, we must immediately, with no Judges or Court Cases, bring them back from where they came.”

Trump’s call to eliminate due process from deportation cases has drawn fire from critics and immigration advocates.

During a White House meeting with GOP lawmakers on Tuesday, he suggested that more judges would lead to corruption.

“Somebody touches our land, we now take them to a court, to a judge. …They want us to choose 5,000 judges. How do you choose 5,000 judges? Can you imagine the corruption, just from a normal standpoint? Just common sense. Can you imagine the corruption?” Trump said during the meeting.

A GOP measure from Sen. Ted Cruz (Texas) would increase the number of immigration judges from roughly 375 to 750. A separate bill, spearheaded by Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), would authorize 225 new immigration judges.