Atlanta immigration courts are handling larger groups at administrative hearings as the Trump administration pushes deportations to record levels.
At 401 West Peachtree, one of two downtown immigration court locations, Judge Amy Fairchild Haer had about 70 people on a recent Tuesday morning docket. The courtroom seated only a couple dozen, leaving others, including people with children, standing in the back or near the doorway. Two other hearing rooms in the building each had dockets approaching 100 that day.
Advocates say they have increasingly seen these large-group hearings in Atlanta and elsewhere since May. Often called “mega master” calendars, they bring nearly 100 people before a single judge for administrative check-ins. The courts previously saw roughly 20 to 40 people a day, and advocates worry the faster pace could lead to more removal orders.
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