The Trump administration has appointed a men's rights advocate, a promoter of conspiracy theories with anti-immigrant views, and a former immigration judge who questioned an asylum seeker's sexuality as immigration judges. These hires, first reported by The Washington Post, are part of a broader effort to reshape immigration courts with judges aligned with the administration's mass deportation policies.
Background on the Hires
Since President Donald Trump took office, the Department of Justice (DOJ) has fired over 100 immigration judges and appointed more than 140 new ones. A survey of the new judges found that two-thirds listed no immigration law experience in their online biographies, and over three-quarters had never worked for the DOJ, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or immigration courts.
Melissa Isaak
Melissa Isaak, appointed as a temporary immigration judge in Atlanta, founded a law firm dedicated to men's rights in family law, according to her firm's website. She has claimed there are two types of women: those who are merely a "warm wet hole" and "real women" who support their husbands. She has falsely asserted that men are more likely than women to be domestic violence victims and that domestic violence allegations are often abused in family court. Immigration judges frequently consider domestic abuse claims in asylum cases. Isaak also defended individuals involved in the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot and represented Roy Moore, who faced sexual misconduct allegations.
Nathan Hansen
Nathan Hansen, appointed in Minnesota, has been described as one of the state's "most unhinged right-wing posters." His X account, now restricted, contains posts endorsing debunked conspiracies like Pizzagate, Obama birtherism, and the racist Haitian Invasion theory. Hansen commented on Facebook before the fatal shooting of two U.S. citizens by federal agents, asking, "Is there anything we can do to help ICE if we want to?"
Carey Holliday
Carey Holliday, a former immigration judge, was rehired despite a DOJ inspector general report finding that the Bush administration had illegally hired judges based on political leanings. In a 2006 asylum case, Holliday denied a gay Serbian man's claim, stating the man did not appear "overtly gay" and lacked "effeminate traits." A federal appeals court later ruled that Holliday's decision was tainted by "impermissible stereotyping of homosexuals." In another case, Holliday denied a Bolivian family's request, writing that the daughter "freely chose to draw unwanted attention to herself."
Policy Changes and Impact
The DOJ is recruiting "deportation judges" with salaries up to $207,500 and signing bonuses. The administration has also implemented policies making it harder to win asylum cases, including directing judges to dismiss cases with minor technical errors without hearings. Asylum rejections have doubled from 2024 to 2025, according to the Post.
