Trump admin. fires S.F. immigration judge with high asylum rate
The Department of Justice fired Judge Chloe S. Dillon, who granted asylum in 96. 5% of her cases, marking her as a significant figure in the San Francisco immigration court. This dismissal is part of a broader pattern under the Trump administration, which has removed several judges known for their favorable asylum decisions. Dillon, who was hired in 2022, is the second immigration judge in San Francisco to be dismissed outside the typical probation period.
The Justice Department has not provided comments regarding her firing, and she continues to appear in the staff directory. Immigration judges operate under the DOJ and can be dismissed by the president, a controversial practice amid rising concerns about judicial independence. Critics assert that these firings are politically motivated, especially as the backlog of immigration cases has reached approximately 3. 5 million. Dillon’s courtroom witnessed an arrest of an asylum-seeker recently, highlighting the tense atmosphere surrounding immigration hearings.
The situation raises questions about the integrity and fairness of the immigration judicial process.