# Asylum nearly impossible in Chicago immigration court

> Chicago immigration judges deny asylum cases at record rates under Trump administration.
- Title: Asylum nearly impossible in Chicago immigration court
- Summary: Chicago immigration judges deny asylum cases at record rates under Trump administration. Chicago immigration court approval rates dropped to 3.3% this year…
- Keywords: chicago, asylum, immigration, chicago immigration court, trump administration, asylum approval rate, immigration judges, deportation judges, federal immigration court, asylum denial, news, local
- Source: Chicago Sun-Times — https://chicago.suntimes.com/the-watchdogs/2026/09/25/now-nearly-impossible-asylum-chicago-immigration-court
- Published: 2026-09-25T23:03:00+00:00
- Read time: 2 min
- Topics: chicago, asylum, immigration, chicago immigration court, trump administration, asylum approval rate, immigration judges, deportation judges, federal immigration court, asylum denial, news, local
## Asylum denial crisis
Chicago immigration court approval rates dropped to 3.3% this year from 14.6% last year as Trump administration changes push judges to deny asylum petitions.
## Venezuelan man's case
A venezuelan man testified he was kidnapped and sodomized by police officers who swore revenge, yet his asylum case was denied because judges doubted his account of police using a single motorcycle.

> they will kill me, these police officers, they’ll know when i am there in venezuela. i don’t want to return
## Judge Beese's record
Judge matthew c. beese, appointed in october 2025, has denied 212 asylum cases out of 802 with only 13 approvals, and 511 cases marked as abandoned.
## New judges lack immigration expertise
Seven of ten new chicago immigration judges have no background in immigration law, having worked in military or administrative law instead.
## Firing of experienced judges
Eva saltzman, a judge with positive performance reviews, was fired in july 2026 after working as an immigration judge since 2016.
## Rule changes for judges
New rules narrow asylum eligibility and speed up deadlines, causing somalis to have their hearing dates moved up without explanation.
## Asylum approval rate drop
The national asylum approval rate dropped to 2.1% this year from 8.8% last year according to a chicago sun-times and wbez analysis.
## Judges under pressure
Immigration judges face heavy caseloads, narrowed asylum rules, and urgent deadlines to process migrants from certain countries.
## Impact on asylum seekers
Asylum seekers from venezuela, honduras, and nicaragua now face only a small chance of having their applications approved.
## Due process concerns
Veteran immigration lawyers say the system is losing its integrity with judges lacking expertise and rule changes that threaten due process.
## Trump administration changes
Since trump returned to office, a shake-up at immigration courts has put judges under pressure to deny asylum petitions.
## New judges' impact
The new judges have granted only 25 asylum cases out of 1,638 since their appointments in january 2025, with a 1.5% approval rate.
## Firing patterns
Women have been fired or terminated without cause since the trump administration began, while no male judges were terminated.
## Judge Treacy's resignation
Judge elizabeth treacy resigned in june 2026 after being overwhelmed with cases and rule changes.
## Asylum eligibility changes
Cases that were eligible for asylum three years ago are no longer eligible due to updated rules from the board of immigration appeals.
## System under threat
The chicago immigration court system faces a crisis with judges lacking expertise, rule changes, and firings threatening due process for immigrants.
## Key takeaway

Chicago immigration court approval rates dropped to 3.3% this year from 14.6% last year as Trump administration changes push judges to deny asylum petitions.