An immigration court few have heard of is quietly shaping policy behind the scenes

Cases in immigration courts nationwide can be appealed to the Board of Immigration Appeals. Here, federal agents stand outside an immigration court in New York on March 6, 2026.

President Trump has slashed the number of people on the Board of Immigration Appeals and stacked it with his appointees, tightening the due process available for immigrants, an NPR analysis shows.

(Image credit: Yuki Iwamura)