Trump Administration Removes New York Immigration Judge Married to Nigerian-American With 97% Asylum Approval Rate

The administration of President Donald Trump has dismissed New York immigration judge Vivienne Gordon-Uruakpa without public announcement, according to a report by the New York Post.

Gordon-Uruakpa, who served at the downtown Manhattan immigration court, approved asylum claims in 97 percent of the cases she handled — the highest rate among immigration judges in the state. She is married to a Nigerian-American. Her name was removed from the court’s official website in September, prompting questions about the circumstances surrounding her departure.

When contacted, the United States Department of Justice declined to provide details, stating only that the court’s website “is up to date.”

Immigration judges operate under the Justice Department and do not have lifetime tenure or the civil service protections granted to Article III federal judges. The Attorney General has authority to appoint and remove them.

Attorney General Pam Bondi oversees immigration court appointments. Critics argue that the removal of judges with high asylum approval rates reflects an effort to align immigration courts more closely with stricter enforcement priorities.

The dismissal comes amid broader changes in the immigration court system. Reports indicate that more than 100 immigration judges have been removed during the Trump administration as deportation levels increase and border enforcement policies tighten.

Data from Syracuse University’s Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse shows that nearly 80 percent of asylum seekers were deported in the last quarter.

Gordon-Uruakpa, 66, studied at Fordham University and later earned her law degree from Howard University School of Law. Before joining the immigration bench, she worked in legal aid and criminal defense.

Her removal has renewed debate about disparities in asylum rulings. Analysts note that outcomes can vary widely depending on which judge hears a case.

In January, John Burns, known for a comparatively low asylum approval rate, was appointed Acting Assistant Chief Immigration Judge, a move seen by observers as signaling a tougher stance within New York’s immigration courts.

The Justice Department has not publicly disclosed the specific reasons for Gordon-Uruakpa’s termination.