The Pentagon has authorized up to 600 military lawyers to serve as temporary immigration judges, as confirmed by a recent memo and reported by a credible news source.
True
“Pentagon authorizes up to 600 military lawyers to serve as temporary immigration judges”
Pentagon authorizes up to 600 military lawyers to serve as temporary immigration judges
Source: eptrail.com
At a glance
Verified September 2, 2025Key Evidence
A memo reviewed by The Associated Press confirms Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's approval.
The East Portland Trail article dated September 2, 2025, reports on this authorization.
The number of military lawyers authorized is up to 600, indicating a substantial deployment.
The reporting
What the Evidence Shows
The claim that the Pentagon authorized up to 600 military lawyers to serve as temporary immigration judges is supported by a recent report from East Portland Trail, which cites a memo reviewed by The Associated Press. The memo indicates that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth approved this measure to assist the Justice Department. This authorization reflects a significant involvement of military legal personnel in immigration adjudication, likely aimed at addressing backlog or staffing shortages within immigration courts.
Given the direct reference to an official memo and corroboration by a reputable news agency (AP), the claim is well-supported. However, since only one source is provided, additional confirmation from other independent outlets or official Pentagon statements would further strengthen the evidence. Nonetheless, based on the available information, the claim is accurate and current as of early September 2025.
Primary trail
Verified Sources1
Open source