Indian-origin judge among those fired as Trump targets immigration bench

An Indian-origin immigration judge is among several jurists dismissed by the administration of US President Donald Trump, in a move that has sparked concern over due process and judicial independence in the country.

As per India in abroad on X, Roopal Patel, who served at the Boston immigration court, was removed from her position after she had blocked a deportation attempt involving a pro-Palestinian student. Her dismissal has drawn attention within the Indian diaspora and legal circles.

Patel had intervened in the case of Rumeysa Ozturk, a doctoral candidate at Tufts University, halting deportation proceedings initiated by authorities. Another judge, Nina Froes, was also terminated after ruling in favour of Mohsen Mahdawi of Columbia University in a similar case.

According to the reports, a total of nine judges were dismissed over the recent holiday weekend, taking the number of immigration judges removed since early last year to 113. The union has criticised the terminations as lacking transparency, alleging that they were carried out without clear cause or due process.

Both Patel and Froes were nearing the completion of their standard two-year probationary terms when they received termination notices on April 10. They had been appointed during the tenure of former President Joe Biden.

The dismissals come amid a broader immigration crackdown under the Trump administration, which has drawn criticism from rights groups and advocacy organisations. Concerns have been raised about the implications for free speech and the safety of minority communities, including international students.

The administration has taken a particularly strong stance against pro-Palestinian activism on university campuses.