The Bay SF Immigration Court’s Death by a Thousand Cuts
Mar 2, 2026
Clara-Sophia Daly, an immigration reporter for Mission Local, explains how San Francisco’s immigration courts have been hollowed out. She describes shifts in asylum hearings, court closures and judge removals. Short on resources and time, the system’s day-to-day operations and migrants’ chances are changing fast.
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San Francisco Courts Were Targeted For High Approval Rates
- San Francisco immigration courts once had unusually high asylum approval rates, making them a sought-after venue for cases.
- That reputation prompted the Trump administration to target and dismantle the courts, reducing judges from 21 to four and closing a courthouse.
Operational Chaos Is Being Used To Curtail Asylum Access
- Court operations have been intentionally disrupted: many courtrooms sit empty and judges have been fired or locked out of emails.
- A planned closure of the Montgomery Street court and sweeping personnel changes create systemic confusion for judges, attorneys, and asylum seekers.
Watching DHS Push Pretermination Transfers In Court
- Clara-Sophia observed DHS using "pre-termination" hearings to push cases out by sending asylum claims to third countries.
- She watched DHS argue for transfers to countries like Guatemala, Honduras, Rwanda, and even Uganda to rapidly close U.S. cases.