Trump admin. fires S.F. immigration judge with high asylum rate
The Department of Justice fired Judge Chloe S. Dillon, an immigration judge in San Francisco with a striking 96. 5 percent asylum approval rate. This action follows reports of the Trump administration dismissing four other San Francisco judges known for high asylum granting rates. Dillon's termination came despite her being outside the typical two-year probation period for immigration judges, marking her as the second judge dismissed in San Francisco under similar circumstances.
Asylum-seekers frequently face arrests immediately after hearings, even when judges deny motions to dismiss cases. A recent event outside Dillon's courtroom involved the arrest of an asylum-seeker, leading to a chaotic scene with protesters and detentions. The Justice Department did not respond to requests for comment, and as of the latest update, Dillon remained listed in the staff directory. Critics assert that the firings are politically motivated amid a substantial backlog of approximately 3. 5 million immigration cases.
The situation raises concerns regarding the integrity of the immigration judiciary and the treatment of asylum-seekers.