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, a dismissal that reflects a broader trend under the Trump administration. Dillon, who was hired in 2022, is the second immigration judge in San Francisco to be terminated outside the usual two-year probation. Her high approval rate contrasts sharply with the national average of 42.

3% during the same period. Reports indicate that the Trump administration has dismissed over 50 immigration judges this year alone, amid a backlog of approximately 3. 5 million immigration cases. Dillon's courtroom recently experienced a chaotic scene where an asylum-seeker was arrested outside, illustrating the ongoing tensions within immigration proceedings. Immigration judges, unlike criminal judges, are employees of the Department of Justice, making them susceptible to political influence.

Critics argue that these firings are politically motivated, aiming to reshape the judiciary’s approach to immigration cases. The Justice Department has not responded to inquiries regarding the rationale behind Dillon's firing.