San Francisco immigration court closes after mass judge departures under Trump administration

Summary

San Francisco's main immigration court has closed after losing nearly all its judges due to firings, retirements, and resignations under the Trump administration. The court, which had 21 judges when Trump took office, was down to just two when it shut down on May 1. The closure reflects broader turmoil in the immigration court system, where almost 100 judges have left and military lawyers have been brought in to handle a massive backlog of 3.8 million asylum cases. San Francisco's court was known for being favorable to asylum-seekers, granting relief at a higher rate than other courts. Most cases have been moved to Concord, which is also facing challenges with fewer judges and a growing caseload.