Trump admin. fires S.F. immigration judge with high asylum rate

The Department of Justice dismissed Judge Chloe S. Dillon, who had a remarkable 96. 5% asylum approval rate, making her one of the most effective immigration judges in San Francisco. This action follows the firings of four other judges in the area since April, all of whom had asylum grant rates exceeding the national average of 42. 3%.

Dillon's termination occurred despite her being beyond the typical two-year probation period for immigration judges, a move that has raised alarms about the political motivations behind such dismissals. The Justice Department and San Francisco Immigration Court did not respond to inquiries regarding Dillon's firing, which coincided with an incident where an asylum-seeker was arrested outside her courtroom. Immigration judges, employed by the DOJ, have expressed concerns that these firings are politically driven, particularly in light of the backlog of around 3. 5 million immigration cases nationally. This situation reflects a broader trend under the Trump administration, which has dismissed over 50 immigration judges this year.

The implications of these firings could significantly affect the asylum-seeking process and the judicial independence of immigration courts. Observers are left questioning how these changes will influence the treatment of asylum-seekers and the overall judicial landscape.