Judges’ Crackdown On Virtual Hearings in Honolulu Adds Hurdles For Immigrants In Court

New judges in Honolulu's immigration court have implemented a policy requiring immigrants and their attorneys to attend hearings in person, increasing the number of in-person appearances by up to 150%. This shift, away from virtual hearings, leads to higher costs and barriers for immigrants, particularly those on the neighbor islands and those outside of Hawaii who must travel to Honolulu for hearings.

The change has resulted in a significant rise in the number of immigrants from the neighbor islands and out-of-state who have had to appear in person for hearings, compared to the previous year. According to immigration attorneys and former judges, this policy is part of a nationwide trend to make it harder for immigrants to fight deportation, as instructed by the White House.