A look inside the immigration courts as pressure mounts to speed deportations
Based on the show notes, this episode examines how President Trump’s second-term immigration agenda is affecting the little-known court system that handles immigration cases. Nicholas Nehamas speaks with Judge Holly D’Andrea about efforts to accelerate deportations and what that means for judges.
*This is a preview based on the published show notes, not a recap of the full audio.* This episode appears to focus on a part of the legal system many listeners may not know much about: the immigration courts. According to the notes, the conversation centers on how President Trump, in his second term, has pressured judges in that system to carry out his agenda and speed up deportations. The reporting angle comes from **Nicholas Nehamas**, a Washington correspondent for *The New York Times*, and the episode also features **Judge Holly D’Andrea**, identified as both an immigration judge and the president of the National Association of Immigration Judges. That suggests listeners can expect both a political reporting frame and a firsthand judicial perspective. If you’re interested in how executive priorities can shape court systems, this sounds like a strong pick. The notes point to a discussion of administrative pressure, judicial independence, and the practical push to move deportation cases faster. The linked background reading—about how immigration judges were purged to speed deportations—also signals that the episode may connect day-to-day court operations to broader policy changes. This may be especially worth your time if you follow immigration policy, federal power, or the mechanics of government institutions that usually stay out of public view. Expect a reported conversation grounded in current politics and the functioning of the immigration judiciary.
About this episode
<p>Through his second term, President Trump has systematically pressured judges to carry out his agenda in a little-known court system that oversees immigration.</p> <p>Nicholas Nehamas, a Washington correspondent for The New York Times, speaks to Judge Holly D’Andrea about the Trump administration’s efforts to speed up deportations.</p> <p>Guest:</p> <ul> <li><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/by/nicholas-nehamas" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><strong>Nicholas Nehamas</strong></a>, a Washington correspondent for The New York Times.</li> <li><strong>Holly D’Andrea</strong>, an immigration judge and president of the National Association of Immigration Judges.</li> </ul> <p>Background reading: </p> <ul> <li>How <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/09/us/politics/trump-miller-immigration-judges-purge.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Mr. Trump purged immigration judges</a> to speed up deportations.</li> </ul> <p>Photo: Desiree Rios for The New York Times</p> <p>For more information on today’s episode, visit <a href="http://nytimes.com/thedaily?smid=pc-thedaily" rel="noopener noreferrer"><strong>nytimes.com/thedaily</strong></a>. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday. </p> <p><p>Subscribe today at <a href="http://nytimes.com/podcasts">nytimes.com/podcasts</a> or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. You can also subscribe via your favorite podcast app here <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/activate-access/audio?source=podcatcher">https://www.nytimes.com/activate-access/audio?source=podcatcher</a>. For more podcasts and narrated articles, download The New York Times app at nytimes.com/app.</p></p><br/> <p>Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See <a href="https://pcm.adswizz.com">pcm.adswizz.com</a> for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.</p>