Real Courts, Rule of Law Act of 2026

This bill would create the United States Immigration Courts as a court system under Article I of the Constitution, separate from the executive branch. The courts would have an appellate division of 21 judges appointed by the President with Senate consent, a trial division of judges appointed by the appellate division, and an administrative division. Judges would serve 15-year terms, could be removed only for set reasons such as misconduct, and would be paid based on federal district judge salaries. Current immigration judges would become interim trial judges during a transition period, and the courts would set their own budget and rules, publish most decisions, and report yearly to Congress.

Full text and official record on Congress.gov

Sponsors

• Kirsten E. Gillibrand Democrat sponsor
• 10 cosponsors