Hiring authority

(a) Immigration judges The Attorney General shall increase— (1) the number of immigration judges by not fewer than an additional 500 judges, as compared to the number of immigration judges as of the date of the enactment of this Act; and (2) the corresponding number of support staff, as necessary. (b) Immigration and customs enforcement attorneys The Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement shall increase the number of attorneys and staff employed by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement by the number that is consistent with the workload staffing model to support the increase in immigration judges. (c) Authorization of appropriations There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary for— (1) the hiring of immigration judges, support staff, and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement attorneys under this section; and (2) the lease, purchase, or construction of facilities or equipment (including video teleconferencing equipment and equipment for electronic filing of immigration cases), and the transfer of federally owned temporary housing units to serve as facilities, for— (A) the increased number of immigration judges, attorneys, and support staff under this section; and (B) conducting immigration court proceedings in close proximity to the locations at which aliens are apprehended and detained.