Trump admin. has fired four S.F. immigration judges since April
The Trump administration's recent firings of four San Francisco immigration judges highlight significant changes in the immigration court system. Judge Ila Deiss, known for her 93. 7 percent asylum approval rate, was among those dismissed, along with judges Roger Dinh, Elisa Brasil, and Jami Vigil. The firings leave nine vacancies in a court with 26 courtrooms, raising concerns about judicial capacity and fairness. Nationwide, at least 17 immigration judges across 10 states have been terminated since Monday, according to the International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers.
Deiss, Brasil, and Vigil outperformed the national asylum approval rate of 42. 3 percent, while Dinh fell below it at 34. 6 percent. The Executive Office for Immigration Review declined to comment on the firings, which coincide with reports of ICE arresting asylum-seekers at court hearings. Milli Atkinson, an immigration specialist, confirmed that another judge, Kyra Lilien, was fired this week in the Concord Immigration Court.
These developments raise serious questions about the future of asylum adjudication in the U. S.