Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University

Rule Changes

Counsel for NAIJ pressing First Amendment and public-right-to-hear arguments

Immigration judges say the Justice Department has effectively muzzled them: speak publicly about immigration and you need permission, and what you say can be steered into “agency talking points.” The Trump administration’s response has been procedural: you don’t get federal court—go through the civil-service machinery first.

Updated Dec 19, 2025