Strict Scrutiny Introducing Runaway Country: Justice Has Left the Building
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Dec 29, 2025 
Anam Raman Petit, a former immigration judge, shares her troubling experiences in immigration courts, highlighting the chilling effects of ICE detentions on due process. She discusses the emotional turmoil faced by judges and families amidst political pressure and mass firings. Andrew Weissmann, former lead prosecutor in Robert Mueller's Special Counsel, analyzes the DOJ's politicization under the Trump administration, revealing the detrimental impact on the rule of law and the demoralization of career staff. Both guests emphasize the urgent need for engagement in protecting democratic norms.
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Overwhelming The System As A Strategy
- The Trump administration is overwhelming immigration courts with cases and pushing dismissals to enable expedited removals.
- That strategy makes the system unable to provide meaningful due process for millions of pending cases.
Political Whiplash In Immigration Law
- Immigration judges face political directives that can upend decades of asylum jurisprudence overnight.
- Frequent policy memos and firings erode judicial independence and produce legal whiplash for adjudicators.
Replacing Expertise With Loyalty
- The administration's mass firings and lowered hiring standards replace qualified immigration judges with less-experienced personnel.
- That hollowing of expertise threatens due process by prioritizing political aims over legal competence.