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

The Department of Justice terminated Judge Chloe S. Dillon, renowned for granting asylum in 96. 5 percent of her cases, marking her as the second immigration judge fired in San Francisco outside the typical two-year probation period. This action followed the dismissal of four other judges in the area, all noted for their high asylum approval rates. Asylum-seekers often face arrests outside the courtroom despite judges denying federal motions to dismiss cases.

Dillon's courtroom witnessed one such incident recently, highlighting the contentious atmosphere surrounding immigration proceedings. The Justice Department did not respond to inquiries regarding the decision, and Dillon was still listed among the judges as of Friday evening. Nationally, the Trump administration has dismissed over 50 immigration judges this year, contributing to a backlog of around 3. 5 million cases. Critics argue these firings serve political ends, undermining the judicial independence of immigration judges.

Immigration judges are classified as employees of the Justice Department, enabling the administration to replace them at will.