Since May 2026, we received reports of “mega master hearings” (mega masters), meaning immigration courts scheduling a massive number of hearings at the same time. Often, one hundred cases per docket per judge and, at least in one court, as high as five hundred per day. It is not happening in every immigration court. However, the practice is spreading throughout the country. In Houston, we have received reports of mega masters happening at some courts.
Common observations during these mega masters were, the presence of a large crowd summoned to appear in court; lack of adequate space to house the people or for court personnel to process such crowd; confusion among people without an attorney resulting in missed roll calls and in absentia removal orders in violation of due process. In addition, mega master hearing dockets also included cases originally scheduled for an individual hearing in 2027 or 2028 but were scheduled for a master hearing during mega masters. Attorneys reported a long wait-time and lack of real purpose for these hearings.