DoJ closes San Francisco immigration court in move critics say worsens case backlog
Summary
The Department of Justice closed a major immigration court in San Francisco, moving most cases to a smaller court in nearby Concord. Lawyers warn this change may increase delays and make it harder for immigrants to get fair hearings.Key Facts
- The San Francisco immigration court on 100 Montgomery Street will close by January 2027.
- Before the closure, 20 of the court’s 22 judges were fired over the past year.
- Most court work will move 35 miles away to Concord, where six judges were recently removed.
- As of September 2025, there are 3.75 million pending immigration cases nationwide and 120,000 in San Francisco alone.
- Legal experts doubt the Concord court can handle the extra workload, predicting long waits for cases.
- Delays can harm immigrants' cases because memories fade and witnesses may become unavailable.
- Language barriers and unstable contact information increase the risk that people will miss hearing dates.
- Missing a hearing can lead to serious consequences, including possible deportation for those with fear of return.
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