Agencies Washington

Seventeen immigration court judges have been fired in recent days, according to the union that represents them, as the Trump administration pushes forward with its mass deportations of immigrants in the United States. The International Federa­tion of Professional and Technical Engineers, which represents immigration court judges, said 15 judges were fired “without cause” on Friday and another two on Monday. The union said they were working in courts in 10 different states in the country.

Union President Matt Biggs said, “It’s outrageous and against the public interest that at the same time Cong­ress has authorised 800 immigration judges, we are firing large numbers of immigration judges without cause. This is nonsensical. The answer is to stop firing and start hiring.” A spokeswoman for the Executive Office of Immi­gration Review, the part of Justice Dept that oversees the courts, refused comments.