Closure of San Francisco Immigration Court Raises Concerns for Asylum Seekers

The San Francisco immigration court located at 100 Montgomery Street is scheduled to close in January 2027, following a decision not to renew its lease. This court, which is the largest of three in the region, currently faces a backlog of over 120,000 cases. The closure is expected to consolidate operations to the Concord immigration court, which has only seven judges and is already overwhelmed with cases. The San Francisco court has seen a significant reduction in its judicial staff, with the number of judges decreasing from 21 to just four by early 2026 due to firings and retirements.

S.F. immigration court to close at year’s end, sources sayKTVU Fox 2KQED

The impending closure has raised serious concerns among immigration advocates regarding access to justice for asylum seekers. Amanda Maya, the asylum program director at the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights, noted that the move contradicts the initial goal of easing access for immigrants in the East Bay and Central Valley. The shift could create logistical chaos, leaving many unsure about their hearing schedules and judges. Maya emphasized that the closure could exacerbate existing challenges for those living in the Peninsula and South Bay regions, who will now face longer travel times to attend court hearings.

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Critics argue that the closure of the San Francisco court is part of a broader strategy by the Trump administration to dismantle the immigration judicial system. Rev. Deborah Lee, head of the Interfaith Movement for Human Integrity, described the administration's actions as a "smash-and-grab robbery" of established legal processes. Jeremiah Johnson, a former immigration judge, expressed concern that the closure reflects an effort to eliminate a court perceived as liberal and a "thorn in the side" of more restrictive immigration policies.

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The Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR), which oversees immigration courts, has not provided a public comment regarding the closure. As the transition progresses, staff and judges from the San Francisco court are expected to be reassigned to the Concord location. However, the lack of written communication regarding the closure has left many in the legal community uncertain about the future of immigration hearings in the Bay Area.

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• “What this current administration has been doing is almost like a smash-and-grab robbery.” — Rev. Deborah Lee, Interfaith Movement for Human Integrity

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• “Logistically, it’s just going to be a nightmare,” — Amanda Maya, Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights

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• “The only rationale I can find to justify closing the San Francisco court instead of relocating it in the close area … is that it’s an effective way to close down a more liberal court.” — Milli Atkinson, Immigrant Legal Defense Program

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While sources agree on the closure of the San Francisco court, there is some discrepancy regarding the operational status of the smaller courtrooms at 630 Sansome Street. Some reports suggest these courtrooms will remain open, while others indicate that the consolidation will lead to significant operational changes. Additionally, the EOIR has not clarified the rationale behind the closure or the future structure of immigration hearings in the region.

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