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

The Department of Justice has fired Judge Chloe S. Dillon, who granted asylum in 96. 5% of her cases in San Francisco. This decision follows the dismissal of four other immigration judges in the area, most of whom had similarly high asylum approval rates. Dillon, hired in 2022, appears to be outside the typical two-year probation period for immigration judges.

The recent climate has seen asylum-seekers arrested by ICE agents immediately following their hearings, a practice that Dillon's courtroom also witnessed. On Wednesday, an asylum-seeker was arrested outside Dillon’s courtroom, leading to a chaotic scene involving the detention of protesters. The Justice Department has not provided any comments regarding Dillon's firing, and she is still listed as part of the San Francisco immigration judges' staff. More than 50 immigration judges have been dismissed nationally this year under the Trump administration, raising concerns about the politicization of judicial roles. Immigration judges have expressed that these firings are politically motivated, further complicating the already challenging immigration landscape.