Trump admin. fires S.F. immigration judge with high asylum rate
The Department of Justice has fired Judge Chloe S. Dillon, recognized for granting asylum in 96. 5% of her cases, making her one of the highest-performing judges in San Francisco immigration court. This dismissal comes after the Trump administration removed four other judges with similar high approval rates, indicating a pattern of politically motivated firings. Dillon, who was hired in 2022, was reportedly outside the standard two-year probation period for immigration judges, raising questions about the justification for her dismissal.
On the day of her firing, an asylum-seeker was arrested outside her courtroom, a situation that has become increasingly common under the current administration. Immigration judges have expressed concerns that these actions undermine their independence and the integrity of the asylum process. Nationally, the Trump administration has fired more than 50 immigration judges this year, despite a backlog of approximately 3. 5 million immigration cases. The Justice Department has not commented on Dillon's firing, leaving many to speculate about the motivations behind these decisions.
The ongoing firings threaten the stability of the immigration court system and the rights of asylum-seekers.