Trump admin. has fired four S.F. immigration judges since April
The Trump administration's recent firings of four immigration judges from the San Francisco Immigration Court have raised concerns among advocates. Ila Deiss, dismissed on Thursday, had granted asylum in 93. 7 percent of her cases, while fellow judges Elisa Brasil and Jami Vigil had even higher rates of 98. 7 percent and 97 percent, respectively. Only Judge Roger Dinh fell below the national average with a 34.
6 percent approval rate. These dismissals leave a total of nine vacancies across the court's 26 courtrooms, complicating the already strained immigration system. Nationwide, reports indicate that at least 17 judges across 10 states have been fired since Monday, according to the International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers. The firings coincide with increased ICE activity, including arrests of asylum-seekers during court proceedings. Milli Atkinson from the Bar Association of San Francisco noted that another judge was recently fired in Concord.
The Executive Office for Immigration Review has not commented on the firings, leaving the rationale behind these actions unclear.