The Trump administration has dismissed nearly 100 immigration judges over the past year, according to an NPR tally. This includes significant changes at the San Francisco Immigration Court, which is set to close by January 2027 due to a non-renewed lease. Cases from the court will transfer to a nearby facility in Concord.
In 2025, the Trump administration fired nearly 100 immigration judges, as tracked by NPR. This restructuring has hit the San Francisco Immigration Court particularly hard. The court, once one of the busiest in the country—handling cases from Oregon and throughout Northern California—has shrunk to a quarter of its previous size. It now operates with just five judges, including the supervisor. Last year, 12 judges were dismissed from this court alone, with others retiring or resigning. Among those fired were newer judges in their two-year probationary period, as well as several tenured ones who had served for years.
Earlier this week, court staff received an email informing them that the building's lease would not be renewed, leading to closure by January 2027. The Justice Department described the move as cost-effective. As of September, the court had a backlog of 120,000 cases. These cases, along with remaining employees, will shift to the Concord Immigration Court, located about 30 miles away. Concord itself opened only two years ago specifically to alleviate pressure on San Francisco.
Immigration lawyers report that clients now face heightened risks of detention and swift deportation, even while cases are pending—a departure from prior protections. Ximena Bustillo, NPR's immigration policy correspondent, noted that fewer courts could exacerbate backlogs, leaving more people in legal uncertainty.
Broader changes include a push to reframe the system as punitive. The Justice Department's hiring now refers to these roles as 'deportation judges' rather than immigration judges. This month, a new group of military lawyers is set to begin training as temporary immigration judges. The administration plans to hire new classes quarterly, continuing to replace experienced judges with others whose backgrounds and training remain under scrutiny. Immigrant advocates worry this shift prioritizes deportation over fair case evaluation.
