House Republicans are demanding answers regarding a recent Justice Department order that requires a union of immigration judges to obtain supervisor approval before speaking publicly about the overwhelmed immigration courts. The Judiciary Committee chair and the leader of an immigration subcommittee have requested records related to the reported gag order that prohibits immigration judges from discussing the Biden Administration's immigration crisis with Congress or the media.
The order has raised concerns as it appears to infringe upon federal employees' rights to communicate freely with Congress. The chief immigration judge informed the National Association of Immigration Judges that approval is now required for any public speaking or writing engagements. This directive follows a 2020 decision that stripped the union of its collective bargaining power, claiming that its previous rights are no longer valid.
