Justice Department Fires New York Immigration Judge Vivienne Gordon-Uruakpa

The Justice Department has terminated the employment of New York immigration Judge Vivienne Gordon-Uruakpa, who had the highest asylum approval rate in the state. Her removal, which occurred in September, was not publicly announced at the time, according to reports from The New York Post and Saharareporters.

High Asylum Approval Rate

Judge Gordon-Uruakpa granted asylum in 97% of the cases that came before her, significantly higher than her colleagues in New York. This rate drew scrutiny from officials, as noted in The New York Post. The judge is a Black female jurist married to a Nigerian-American Saharareporters reported.

Part of a Larger Trend

Gordon-Uruakpa’s departure is reportedly part of a broader effort to remove immigration judges considered lenient towards asylum seekers. Attorney General Pam Bondi has the authority to hire and fire immigration judges, who do not have the lifetime tenure of many other federal judges The New York Post stated. President Trump has reportedly fired over 100 immigration judges during his term, coinciding with increased deportation rates and efforts to reduce illegal immigration at the border.

DOJ Response

The Justice Department has not publicly disclosed the specific reasons for Gordon-Uruakpa’s termination. When questioned, the DOJ stated that the court’s website “is up to date” The New York Post reported. Gordon-Uruakpa is no longer listed on the website of the Manhattan courthouse where she previously served.

Background

Judge Gordon-Uruakpa attended Fordham University and Howard University School of Law, with a background in legal aid and criminal defense The New York Post reported. According to Syracuse University’s TRAC program, nearly 80 percent of migrants seeking asylum were deported in the last quarter.