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

The Department of Justice has fired Judge Chloe S. Dillon, a San Francisco immigration judge who granted asylum in 96. 5 percent of her cases. This dismissal is part of a larger trend, as the Trump administration has fired four other immigration judges in San Francisco since April, all of whom granted asylum at rates above the national average. Dillon was hired in 2022 and is the second judge dismissed outside the typical two-year probationary window.

The Justice Department has not responded to inquiries regarding the termination, and Dillon still appeared on the staff directory as of Friday evening. Critics assert that these firings reflect a politically motivated agenda against judges who favor asylum-seekers, as immigration judges are employees of the Department of Justice rather than the judicial branch. On a broader scale, more than 50 immigration judges have been dismissed nationally this year, even as the backlog of immigration cases approaches 3. 5 million. This situation raises concerns about the impact on due process for asylum-seekers, who often face arrest immediately after their hearings.

Dillon’s courtroom witnessed an incident where an asylum-seeker was arrested outside, highlighting the tension surrounding immigration enforcement.