In brief
Following a White House purge that reduced the court's 21 judges to two, San Francisco's immigration court has closed, leaving asylum seekers without in-person hearings. The shutdown reflects a nationwide effort to clear the 3.8 million case backlog, with asylum denial rates soaring as conservative judges and military lawyers replace liberal ones. Legal experts warn this undermines due process, especially in a region where 75% of asylum seekers historically received relief. Cases are now handled at a distant Concord courthouse with heightened security, creating dangerous delays for vulnerable clients.
SAN FRANCISCO — San Francisco's main immigration court has closed entirely, with no immigrants waiting for rulings and no lawyers arguing cases. The facility, which operated with 21 judges when President Donald Trump was sworn in, now has only two remaining judges after a White House purge eliminated nearly all its staff. These judges will work from a different federal building but will be part of an immigration court across the bay in Oakland.The closure represents the first major city to lose its primary immigration court, leaving chaos in a region long known for supporting asylum seekers. This comes as the administration intensifies efforts to process its massive backlog of 3.8 million asylum cases while deporting as many people as possible. Asylum denial rates have soared following the firing of almost 100 judges deemed 'too liberal' and the appointment of hundreds of military lawyers.San Francisco's court had the third-highest number of asylum cases nationwide, with 75% of petitioners receiving relief from 2019-2024 compared to 43% nationally. This success stemmed from the city's robust network of pro-immigrant organizations and legal services. The Executive Office of Immigration Review initially planned to close the facility in 2027, but the shutdown accelerated after nearly all judges left or were fired.Now, security is tight at the Concord courthouse, 30 miles away, where cases have been moved. Armed guards check for weapons and enforce strict phone rules—only water in transparent bottles is allowed. Legal experts describe a 'fraught atmosphere' with last-minute hearing cancellations and reset cases leaving clients vulnerable to deportation. One attorney described a client whose asylum approval was revoked after the initial judge was fired, forcing multiple transfers without resolution.'Disregarding due process is intentional,' said attorney Judah Lakin, who noted clients' paperwork often expires before hearings. Former judge Dana Leigh Marks called the closure 'part of a big ways and little ways' strategy to 'get non-citizens out of the country.' A fired judge believed he was targeted for granting asylum in 89% of his cases, stating, 'You don't fire judges if you disagree with the way they're handling a case.'With only six hundred immigration judges nationwide—down from 754 during Trump's first term—delays have intensified. Legal advocates warn this dismantling of the asylum system creates a 'moving target' for vulnerable individuals seeking safety, with their 'whole lives at stake' as they plead for their future.}
