Trump admin. fires S.F. immigration judge with high asylum rate
The Department of Justice fired Judge Chloe S. Dillon, known for her exceptional 96. 5 percent asylum approval rate in her San Francisco immigration court. This dismissal is part of a broader trend under the Trump administration, which has removed multiple judges who grant high rates of asylum, raising concerns about political motivations. Dillon's termination occurred outside the standard two-year probation period for immigration judges, making her case particularly notable.
The Justice Department has not provided comments regarding her firing amidst a backlog of approximately 3. 5 million immigration cases. Asylum-seekers frequently face arrest immediately after their hearings, often leading to chaotic scenes outside the courtroom. Dillon's courtroom witnessed such an incident recently, where an asylum-seeker was arrested by ICE agents. Immigration judges, who are employees of the Department of Justice, have expressed concerns over the politicization of their roles.
This situation highlights ongoing debates about the integrity and independence of immigration judges in the current political climate.