San Francisco Immigration Court Shuts Down Amid Controversy
Following significant upheaval, San Francisco’s immigration court has become the first major city in the United States to cease operations, leaving no judges to hear cases or attorneys to advocate for immigrants. When President Donald Trump took office last year, the court had 21 judges, but by May 1, only two remained, with the others having been dismissed, resigned, or left amidst a controversial overhaul of the federal immigration judiciary.
The closure underscores a larger dysfunction within the immigration court system as the administration faces a staggering backlog of 3.8 million asylum applications while simultaneously pushing for mass deportations. The approval rates for asylum cases have plummeted following the dismissal of approximately 100 judges, deemed too lenient, and the appointment of military lawyers to replace them. Alarmingly, migrants are now frequently arrested during their scheduled court appearances.
The elimination of San Francisco’s primary immigration court highlights the chaos surrounding the immigration process in a region historically welcoming to asylum seekers. The remaining two judges will work from a federal building in the city but will officially be part of a court located across the bay.
Concerns About San Francisco’s Legal Reputation
Insiders suggest that the court’s once-esteemed reputation may have played a role in its downfall. Jeremiah Johnson, a former San Francisco immigration judge and current Executive Vice President of the National Association of Immigration Judges, noted that targeting a well-respected court reflects broader dynamics playing out in the immigration system.
Currently, most of the court’s 117,000 immigration cases have been moved to a courthouse in Concord, located about 30 miles away, which was established two years ago to help alleviate San Francisco’s backlog. However, this transition has not been smooth, as the Concord court was already overwhelmed, plummeting from 11 judges in early 2025 to just five due to layoffs. Even prior to San Francisco’s closure, the center’s caseload reached an alarming 60,000 cases.
San Francisco’s court previously handled the third-highest number of asylum applications in the nation, with a 75% approval rate from 2019 to 2024—significantly higher than the national average of 43%, according to the Transaction Records Access Clearinghouse. A robust network of pro-immigrant organizations and affordable legal services has traditionally contributed to this success.
Security Measures at the Concord Courthouse
The security protocols at the Concord courthouse are notably stringent, reflecting the influx of cases. Armed guards scrutinize everyone entering the building, asking about weapons and ensuring all cellphones are turned off. Moreover, visitors are prohibited from bringing in food or beverages, except for water in clear containers.
Judah Lakin, an immigration attorney based in Oakland and a law professor at the University of California, Berkeley, highlighted that the move to Concord complicates access for her clients, many of whom must travel hours via public transportation. A recent 10-minute hearing, for example, resulted in over two hours of travel time.
Disruption and Uncertainty for Asylum Seekers
The chaos surrounding immigration courts under the Trump administration has generated a tense environment for both attorneys and clients. Lakin noted that mass layoffs often lead to last-minute cancellations of hearings and cases being reset without prior notice, leaving clients in legal limbo and vulnerable to deportation.
She recounted one client who was provisionally granted asylum, only to have the judge fired before the ruling could be finalized. The case was reassigned to two additional judges, both of whom also left, with the client now awaiting resolution under a third judge.
According to Lakin, this disruption appears intentional. It raises concerns about due process in the immigration system, as the landscape continues to change rapidly.
Implications of the Court’s Closure on Immigrant Rights
San Francisco’s immigration court has historically been a pioneer in hiring judges with experience in non-prosecution settings, many of whom have worked directly with immigrant communities. Dana Lee Marks, a former immigration judge who retired in 2021 after 35 years, referred to the closure as “heartbreaking” and characterized it as part of a broader strategy to undermine asylum pathways and due process.
Johnson, who was removed from his position, believes he was targeted for his high approval rate in asylum cases, providing a stark illustration of the political pressures encircling immigration judges. In contrast to federal courts, immigration courts are managed by the Justice Department, allowing for greater flexibility in the removal of judges.
The landscape of immigration courts has significantly shifted since Trump’s second term began, with the number of judges declining from 754 to around 600, exacerbated by widespread arrests of immigrants appearing for their hearings. These developments have led to countless deportation orders being issued in absentia as individuals fail to appear due to fear of arrest.
Immigration attorney Nidaa Pervaiz recently represented a client from Nepal in Concord and expressed mixed feelings about the courthouse’s relocation. While it is closer to her home, both she and her clients are acutely aware that a reduction in judges will result in extended delays, jeopardizing the timeliness of their cases. “These individuals risk their lives to seek better futures, and their pleas should be heard without further hindrance,” she said.
