The U.S. Department of Justice has dismissed another San Francisco immigration judge, bringing the total to six since Donald Trump became president. Observers note a trend of removing judges who are more likely to grant asylum or have backgrounds in immigrant defense.
Judge Shira Levine, appointed in October 2021, was the most recent to be terminated. She received no clear explanation for her removal, though advocates said it was not entirely unexpected.
Since April, five other immigration judges in San Francisco have faced similar dismissals, including Chloe Dillon and Elisa Brasil—both known for high asylum approval rates. Dillon revealed she learned of her firing via a brief email on August 22, just after presiding over an asylum hearing. She had intended to issue her ruling that same day.
The repeated terminations raise concerns that judges with records of granting asylum are being deliberately targeted.
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