The United States Department of Justice (DOJ) under former President Donald Trump has quietly dismissed Vivienne Gordon-Uruakpa, a New York-based immigration judge known for approving asylum claims at one of the nation’s highest rates.
Gordon-Uruakpa, a Black female jurist married to a Nigerian-American, reportedly approved asylum requests in 97 percent of cases—the highest in the state. Her termination in September went largely unannounced, and she has since been removed from the official website of the Manhattan immigration courthouse where she served, raising concerns about transparency.
The DOJ declined to provide details on her dismissal, stating only that the court’s website is current. Observers note that her removal is part of a broader trend under the Trump administration to replace judges seen as sympathetic to asylum seekers. Immigration judges, who operate under the DOJ, do not enjoy lifetime tenure or civil-service protections, leaving them vulnerable to political dismissal.
Attorney General Pam Bondi has authority over the appointment and removal of immigration judges, a power critics argue has been increasingly used to steer courts toward stricter enforcement. During Trump’s tenure, over 100 immigration judges were reportedly removed, coinciding with rising deportation rates and intensified border enforcement.
Gordon-Uruakpa, 66, is a Fordham University and Howard University School of Law graduate with years of experience in legal aid and criminal defense. Analysts say her professional background influenced her high asylum approval rate. Meanwhile, John Burns, known for stricter rulings on asylum cases, was appointed Acting Assistant Chief Judge in January, signaling a shift toward tighter immigration adjudication.
Critics argue that Gordon-Uruakpa’s removal underscores political interference in immigration courts, highlighting how asylum outcomes can depend heavily on which judge is assigned to a case, turning the system into what some describe as a “judicial lottery.”
Category: US
Tags: Vivienne Gordon-Uruakpa, DOJ, asylum, immigration judge, New York, Trump administration, deportation, judicial independence
