The senator’s visit occurred just days after nearly 20 more immigration judges, including some in California, were removed from their positions.

SAN DIEGO — U.S. Senator Alex Padilla visited San Diego’s federal immigration court on Wednesday to observe legal proceedings and criticize the Trump administration’s handling of the immigration system. The California Democrat’s visit came amid ongoing removals of immigration judges and a record case backlog.

“I came to see firsthand,” said Padilla.

As a ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Immigration Subcommittee, Padilla said he was exercising his congressional oversight role by observing immigration proceedings.

“I sat quietly in the back, I want to make sure I emphasize that.. I was not disruptive, was not recording, was not interfering with the procedures,” said Padilla.

The senator’s visit occurred just days after nearly 20 more immigration judges, including some in California, were removed from their positions. This brings the total number of judges removed by the Trump administration this year to approximately 100.

While the administration claims the ousted judges were not managing their caseloads effectively, Padilla disagreed. 

“We need more judges with these increasing workloads.. not less,” Padilla said.

The nation currently faces a historic case backlog of 3.4 million immigration cases. In response, the Pentagon is using hundreds of its military attorneys, known as JAGs, to temporarily serve as immigration judges.

Padilla criticized this approach, saying, “It’s not going to improve things. These are judges who may have a legal background, but not when it comes to immigration. We need more immigration judges to do the work of immigration judges.”

The senator also condemned what he called “inefficiencies” in the federal immigration system. 

“This administration has made it easier for people to be detained, to be arrested, to be in the process for expedited removal. That is their objective, and at the same time they are reducing the resources [to] be able to provide due process,” said Padilla.

In June, Padilla, along with other lawmakers, sent a letter to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem expressing concerns over the perceived targeting of immigrants attending court proceedings. Padilla noted the administration’s lack of response to these concerns.

“I wish I could say this administration has been responsive and has been substantive in their response,” he added, “but that’s not the case,”