LOS ANGELES:-  The federal government has permanently closed the immigration court at 100 Montgomery Street in San Francisco, eight months ahead of schedule. The move has thrown the cases of thousands of immigrants into limbo and rights activists warn it will lead to further delays and confusion. Only one person remained in line for service at the end of the court’s operation. The closure of the court has been described by legal experts as a major blow to the country’s main immigration center.

According to Bill Hing, a professor of law and immigration studies at the University of San Francisco, there are about 15,000 cases in the region that are currently in a state of indecision. San Francisco and the Bay Area are considered major centers for refugee applications, so the decision is a major blow to those coming there. The Justice Department fired at least 20 of the court’s 22 immigration judges ahead of the May 1 shutdown. Judge Jeremiah Johnson, who was fired, has claimed he was removed because he did his job honestly.

Professor Hing suspects that the court’s impartiality and high approval rate in refugee cases may be the main reason behind the closure. He argues that the court was closed to remove impartial judges. However, the US Department of Justice’s Executive Office for Immigration Review has said that it would be economically viable to move the operations of 100 Montgomery Street to the nearby Concord Immigration Court.

Immigration lawyers in Concord are concerned that the decision could lead to years of delays. There are 120,000 pending cases in San Francisco and 60,000 in Concord. The uncertainty has been compounded by the fact that the Concord court has said it will not start hearings before December. Many people are at risk of being issued deportation orders because they have not been notified of the change in their hearing date and location, and advocates have suggested checking the online portal for regular updates.