Hundreds of immigrants from Iowa and Nebraska are having their cases heard in large-scale hearings known as mega masters in front of judges with previous ties to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
A mega master hearing groups dozens or hundreds of immigration cases into a single proceeding. The U.S. Department of Justice implemented such hearings nationwide to reduce court backlogs, drawing due process concerns from immigrant advocates.
The accelerated scheduling can create logistical challenges that result in removal orders.
Master hearings serve as preliminary hearings where individuals can enter pleas or inform judges of requests for relief, such as asylum. They are typically the first time an individual appears in court.
Many immigrants are unaware of their hearings because they lack legal representation or do not receive notice in time, according to the immigrant advocacy and legal support organization Iowa Migrant Movement for Justice. Failure to appear at these hearings often results in immediate removal orders, the organization said.
Although many cases are heard at once, each person is advised of their rights and alleged immigration law violations, and questions of legal representation are addressed, Kathryn Mattingly, press secretary for the U.S. Executive Office of Immigration Review, said in a statement to the Des Moines Register. For removal orders based on failure to appear, the judge must find that proper notice was given and that the Department of Homeland Security has established removability, Mattingly said.
Iowa MMJ’s legal experts estimate that these hearings have been taking place since early June in the Omaha, Nebraska, immigration court, which hears all of Iowa’s cases, said Elena Casillas-Hoffman, the organization’s communications specialist.
Based on the Center for Immigrant and Refugee Advancement’s observations, about three mega master hearings have been held in Omaha each week since June, Sophia Ibrahimi, the center’s communications director, told the Register.
Group hearings are not new, but the scale has increased dramatically, said Suzan Pritchett, a Drake University Law School professor with an immigration law background. In the past, the hearings were more common for detained immigrants, she said. The nature of the hearings can make it harder for notices to reach people who are not detained and may have moved without notifying the court.
So far in fiscal year 2026, more than 1,000 asylum requests have been heard by the Omaha court, which is more than the 652 cases heard in 2025, Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse, a national data-gathering organization.
Having such large groups of people from diverse backgrounds also raises concerns of whether immigrants understand what is happening in the hearing due to language barriers and a lack of adequate translation, Pritchett said.
Who are the judges at the Omaha immigration court?
Many of the judges presiding over these hearings in Omaha and around the nation have previously represented the federal government, including ICE.
The Omaha court has six immigration judges, all of whom have served as legal counsel for ICE within the last decade, with some serving in this capacity months before their appointments. Nationwide, the Trump administration initiated widespread firings of immigration judges and appointed judges with past ties to the federal government, as well as some without any immigration law experience.
In Omaha, Judges Lucas Abbott, Juan Román and Eric Stransky were appointed to the court in the first few months of 2026, while Alexandra Larsen, Matthew Morrissey and Abby Meyer were appointed during President Donald Trump’s first term.
Pritchett said while judges who have represented the government are screened to prevent them from hearing cases they’ve previously prosecuted, it is still possible to carry a “prosecutorial perspective” with them to the bench. This is especially true given the current political environment, she said.
“What’s unique about our current situation is that the hiring does look like it’s become more partisan, and it’s become more about partisanship and loyalty to the executive agenda rather than knowledge and ability to engage in objective decision-making around complicated issues of law,” Pritchett said.
Immigration judges are part of the executive branch and are appointed by the U.S. attorney general rather than confirmed by the Senate.
Mattingly said the Executive Office of Immigration Review continually evaluates its judges to ensure ethical practices, impartiality and adherence to the law. If a judge is found to be biased, the office is “obligated to take action to preserve the integrity of its system,” she said.
UI law student witnessed first Omaha mega master hearing
University of Iowa law student Chase McLaren attended a mega master hearing in Omaha on June 9, which is believed to be the first such hearing at the court.
McLaren told the Register that people with attorneys were called individually before those without attorneys were grouped into the mega master hearing. In total, McLaren said he counted just 19 people there out of around 75 who were issued notices to appear.
During the hearing, McLaren said the judge recommended each individual obtain legal counsel and gave them six months to do so. For everyone who was not present that day, removal orders were issued, he said.
While issuing the orders “rapid fire,” McLaren said, the judge would state findings of fact about the individual. In one case, McLaren said the judge found that a family moved to Idaho and properly notified the court. But the judge ordered their removal because they did not appear in Omaha that day.
“Maybe had they had an attorney, the attorney might have been able to help them at least attempt to reschedule to an immigration court close to them. But that wasn’t the case,” McLaren said. “So they never even got the opportunity to try that.”
McLaren said individuals facing removal orders need to be aware that they must attend their master hearings, as it is now almost certain they will be deported if they do not.
“If you miss court, your case could be over,” McLaren said. “The government will win if you miss court.”
Isabelle Foland is a communities reporter for the Register. Reach her at ifoland@registermedia.com.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Iowa immigrants face fast-track hearings that can trigger deportation
Reporting by Isabelle Foland, Des Moines Register / Des Moines Register
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Isabelle Foland, Des Moines Register | USA TODAY Network
