San Francisco's Last Immigration Court Downgraded to Satellite

San Francisco will lose its last independent immigration court by September 4, 2026, as the 630 Sansome Street facility becomes a satellite of Concord. This change adds travel burdens and confusion for immigrants.

- The court will operate at limited capacity, with most cases reassigned to Concord, about 90 minutes away by BART. - Asylum seekers may have hearings transferred without a formal venue change, increasing deportation risk for no-shows.

- The two remaining judges will report to Julie Nelson, who denied 69.3% of asylum claims from 2020 to 2025. - The closure follows the earlier shutdown of the Montgomery Street court and a national wave of immigration judge firings.

The move is part of federal cost-cutting measures, but critics say it shows callousness toward the immigrant community. Ongoing lawsuits challenge related detention conditions.