San Francisco and Los Angeles may share a state, but in asylum court they are playing very different games. San Francisco immigration judges have been granting asylum at far higher rates than judges in Los Angeles and nearby Adelanto, according to a new review of federal court records. Attorneys say the divide reflects who is on the bench, who can find a lawyer and how recent Department of Justice moves are rippling through already overwhelmed courtrooms.
Data compiled by TRAC show San Francisco immigration courts denied roughly 29% of asylum petitions over a recent multiyear period, compared with about 71% in Los Angeles. Judge-by-judge reports from TRAC highlight just how far apart individual jurists can be. Judge Kevin W. Riley (LA North/Adelanto) and Judge Katie G. Mullins (Adelanto) both show denial rates above 90%, while Judge Shira M. Levine in San Francisco denied about 2% of roughly 1,165 asylum matters.
What's Driving the Gap
Local reporting and court data point to a familiar trio of culprits: detained dockets that are packed with people who have no lawyer, the mix of nationalities cycling through each courthouse and rapid turnover on the bench. The San Francisco Chronicle has documented a string of judge removals and management memos that reshaped the San Francisco roster, while analysts say differences in legal representation and docket types help explain why outcomes vary from one courthouse to another. The Los Angeles Times has reported that judge turnover and expedited-decision guidance from EOIR are changing courtroom dynamics statewide.
Local Impact For Migrants
The disparities are not just a matter of statistics. They translate into longer waits, more in-custody hearings and life-altering outcomes that can hinge on where a case happens to land. Mission Local, which has tracked the Bay Area court’s docket, reports that San Francisco’s backlog is now the largest in the state and that some hearings have been pushed years into the future. Mission Local found that courthouse arrests and shrinking judge rosters are already making it harder for migrants to secure counsel and even make it to their hearings.
Advocates Warn Of 'Luck Of The Draw'
Immigration attorneys say the system can feel like legal roulette, where the judge you draw can matter as much as the facts you present. Local advocates and judge unions warn that sudden removals and persistent staffing shortages are undermining due process and pushing more people toward default losses. NBC Bay Area reported that the purge of experienced judges and the push for faster adjudications have already changed how cases are being decided.
The growing split has drawn national attention this week, as outlets point to TRAC’s numbers to show how uneven asylum adjudication can be across California. The New York Post ran a roundup of the figures, and attorneys say the data are fueling calls for tighter oversight, more consistent training for judges and better access to counsel for people seeking asylum.
