Trump admin. fires S.F. immigration judge with high asylum rate
The Department of Justice fired Judge Chloe S. Dillon, who had a 96. 5 percent asylum approval rate in San Francisco, amid a wave of dismissals of judges known for granting asylum. Dillon is the second immigration judge in San Francisco to be terminated outside the typical two-year probation period, raising concerns about the politicization of the judiciary. The Trump administration has reportedly fired over 50 immigration judges this year, despite a backlog of around 3.
5 million cases. The Justice Department did not respond to inquiries regarding Dillon's dismissal, and she remained on the staff directory as of Friday. Asylum-seekers frequently face arrests following their hearings, with judges in San Francisco often denying motions to dismiss cases, which could prevent such actions. This chaotic environment was evident when an asylum-seeker was arrested outside Dillon’s courtroom, leading to confrontations between ICE agents and protesters. Immigration judges have voiced their concerns, asserting that these firings are politically motivated and undermine judicial independence.
The trend of dismissals raises critical questions about the future of immigration justice in the U. S.