The Supreme Court on Monday halted a lower‑court victory for a group of immigration judges who sued over speech restrictions. The judges, represented by the National Association of Immigration Judges, argued that a Trump‑era policy barred them from lecturing at universities or speaking to community groups. The high court said the Fourth Circuit had overstepped by deciding the case on grounds the parties never raised.

Typically, federal employee complaints travel through internal bodies such as the Office of Special Counsel or the Merit Systems Protection Board. Both agencies lost senior leadership after President Trump dismissed their heads last year, raising doubts about their ability to process the judges’ claims. The Fourth Circuit had opened the door for district‑court review, citing those uncertainties recent.

The unsigned opinion left the case in the lower courts but barred the appellate court from expanding the issue. Justice Thomas, joined by Justice Barrett, would have dismissed the suit on merits, signaling strong support for the administration’s limits on public‑sector speech. As a result, immigration judges must continue using internal grievance channels before any courtroom challenge.