DOJ closes San Francisco immigration court ahead of schedule, leaving thousands of cases in limbo

SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- Eight months ahead of schedule, the federal government closed San Francisco's immigration court at 100 Montgomery Street, leaving thousands of cases in transition and advocates warning of delays and confusion.

During the court's final hours of operation, only one person remained in line for services. The shutdown affects what legal experts describe as one of the country's major hubs for immigration cases.

"We are talking about 15,000 cases that are in limbo in San Francisco. It's a major hub of immigration in the U.S. Many people who are applying for asylum come to San Francisco, come to the Bay Area, and this is major blow for them," said Bill Hing, a professor of law and migration studies at the University of San Francisco.

Ahead of the May 1 closure, the Department of Justice fired at least 20 of the court's 22 immigration judges. In December, one of those judges, Jeremiah Johnson, spoke about his dismissal.

When asked why he believed he was fired, Johnson said, "For doing my job. Immigration judges precede over removal proceedings. That is what the law states."

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Hing said he believes asylum approval rates at the Montgomery Street court played a role in the decision to close it.

"They wanted to get rid of immigration judges that were fair when it came to asylum cases, so that is the real reason for closing this court," Hing said.

In a statement, the Executive Office for Immigration Review, part of the U.S. Department of Justice, said it "determined it would be more cost effective to relocate its court operations at 100 Montgomery Street to the nearby Concord Immigration Court."

Immigration advocates in Concord said they are concerned the closure will lead to years of delay for people awaiting hearings.

"In San Francisco, there are 120,000 cases pending. In Concord is half -- 60,000 -- and that's where we are. What we are hearing from the court in Concord is that they won't start the hearings until December," said Sergio Jaime-Lopez, community defender program manager for the Safe Center.

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The Executive Office for Immigration Review said it will "begin issuing new hearing notices to all parties whose cases are reassigned to the Concord Immigration Court."

However, some legal advocates are concerned the closure will lead to confusion. Milli Atkinson, director of the Immigrant Legal Defense Program at the Bar Association of San Francisco is encouraging clients to check their immigration location online for any updates.

"We've had a lot of cases and received a lot of information about people who had their hearing changed, and they were not aware of it, and they got a notice afterwards that their case was closed," Atkinson said.

Advocates said they are worried the closure will result in missed appointments and deportation orders.

Full US Dept. of Justice statement:

"EOIR to Close the San Francisco Immigration Court Court's Sansome Street Location Will Become a Hearing Location FALLS CHURCH, Va. - The Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) announced today that the San Francisco Immigration Court will permanently close, and its Sansome Street location will become a hearing location under the administrative control of the Concord Immigration Court, at the close of business on Sept. 4, 2026. EOIR, working with the General Services Administration, determined it would be more cost effective to relocate its court operations at 100 Montgomery Street to the nearby Concord Immigration Court. EOIR will begin issuing new hearing notices to all parties whose cases are reassigned to the Concord Immigration Court. Cases will still be timely adjudicated either at the Concord Immigration Court or remotely. - EOI"- Executive Office for Immigration Review, DOJ.