Why It Matters
The National Association of Immigration Judges has switched lobbying firms, moving from Meltsner Strategies LLC to Alignment Government Strategies. Following the Trump Administration's mass firing of immigration judges and decision to authorize up to 600 military lawyers to serve as temporary immigration judges, efforts have been made to reshape the immigration court system.
Broader Context
The National Association of Immigration Judges spent $96,000 on lobbying over the past four quarters. The organization has engaged three lobbyists through Alignment Government Strategies: Partners Jenny DiJames and Mike Beer, and Vice President Jim Meltsner. The registration was filed Sept. 3, 2026 with no specific legislation attached.
The Board of Immigration Appeals backlog reached an all-time high of nearly 220,000 cases at the end of 2025. In March 2025, the Trump Administration terminated funding for legal representation of over 26,000 unaccompanied children, though a federal court later enjoined the action, finding it violated the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2008.
The Bottom Line
With mass judicial firings, a mounting appeals backlog, and competing legislative efforts to either accelerate or restrict deportations, the association's lobbying priorities center on preserving the judiciary's independence and ensuring adequate resources for court operations.
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