For one S.F. asylum seeker, ICE arrest meant move to more conservative judge

A 20-year-old asylum-seeker now faces deportation after his case was transferred from San Francisco to a San Bernardino County immigration court, where the presiding judge has a reputation for denying asylum requests. Under Judge Jeremiah Johnson, the asylum-seeker had a favorable chance, with Johnson granting asylum in nearly 89% of cases. However, Judge Ravit Halperin, who has denied 90% of cases, accepted a motion to dismiss the asylum case that Johnson had previously denied. The situation escalated after a federal attorney from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) moved to dismiss the case during a routine hearing. Following Johnson’s denial, DHS arrested the asylum-seeker, which is part of a broader pattern of ICE actions targeting asylum-seekers in San Francisco.

The transfer of the case to a more conservative judge demonstrates the DHS's new tactics aimed at expediting deportations. The asylum-seeker's claims stem from political activism in India, raising concerns about the implications for his safety if deported. His attorney, Simran Kaur, expressed confusion over the lack of changed circumstances that would warrant the new ruling.