El Paso District Judge Marlene Gonzalez has recused herself from cases involving unaccompanied migrant children after allegations of biased behavior surfaced. A motion filed by immigrant advocacy group Estrella del Paso accused Gonzalez of humiliating and shaming children during hearings.

The court filings detailed incidents where Gonzalez reportedly interrogated minors harshly, including a Guatemalan boy fleeing abuse and a Venezuelan girl trafficked into prostitution. Critics allege she subjected the children to cruel questioning while inconsistently ruling on their immigration petitions.

Gonzalez’s recusal could impact how such cases proceed in El Paso, a key jurisdiction for immigration proceedings. Advocates are watching whether this prompts broader scrutiny of judicial conduct in immigration courts, especially as policy around unaccompanied minors remains under legal and political debate.