Trump admin. fires S.F. immigration judge with high asylum rate
The Department of Justice dismissed Judge Chloe S. Dillon, recognized for her high asylum clearance rate of 96. 5% in San Francisco. This firing follows the removal of four other immigration judges in the region since April, all of whom had above-average asylum approval rates. Dillon's termination comes despite her being outside the two-year probation period typically applied to immigration judges.
The Justice Department did not respond to requests for comment regarding the dismissal. Immigration judges, unlike criminal judges, are employees of the Department of Justice, and the Trump administration has dismissed over 50 judges this year, raising concerns about political motivations. Asylum-seekers often face arrests after their hearings, and Dillon's courtroom witnessed an arrest just before her firing. These firings contribute to a backlog of approximately 3. 5 million immigration cases nationwide.
Critics argue that these actions threaten judicial independence and the integrity of the asylum process.