₦airaland Forum

Trump Government Secretly Sacks New York Judge Married To Nigerian-American After Granting Asylum In 97% Of Cases

The United States Department of Justice (DOJ) under President Donald Trump has quietly dismissed a New York-based immigration judge, Vivienne Gordon-Uruakpa.

Gordon-Uruakpa is a Black, a female jurist married to a Nigerian-American, after she approved asylum claims at one of the highest rates in the country.

According to the New York Post, Gordon-Uruakpa, widely regarded as New York’s most lenient immigration court judge, had her appointment terminated without public announcement in September.

Her removal reportedly followed scrutiny of her rulings, which favoured asylum seekers in 97 percent of cases, the highest approval rate among her colleagues in the state.

The judge has since disappeared from the official website of the downtown Manhattan immigration courthouse where she previously served, fueling concerns about transparency surrounding her dismissal.

When contacted, the DOJ declined to provide details about her removal, stating only that the court’s website “is up to date.”

Gordon-Uruakpa’s sudden exit comes amid what observers describe as a broader purge of immigration judges perceived as sympathetic to asylum applicants.

Immigration court judges operate under the Justice Department and do not enjoy lifetime tenure or civil-service protections granted to federal judges, leaving them vulnerable to political dismissal.

Attorney General Pam Bondi holds authority to appoint and remove immigration judges, a power critics say has increasingly been used to reshape immigration courts along stricter enforcement lines.

The development follows reports that the Trump administration has fired more than 100 immigration judges during its tenure, as deportation rates climb and border enforcement policies intensify.

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

Gordon-Uruakpa, 66, studied at Fordham University in the Bronx and later attended Howard University School of Law.

Her professional background includes years in legal aid and criminal defense, experience that observers say influenced her approach to asylum adjudication.

Her removal drew renewed attention after she was recently referenced in a report examining how asylum outcomes often depend heavily on which judge hears a migrant’s case, effectively turning immigration proceedings into what critics describe as a “judicial lottery.”

Meanwhile, John Burns, considered one of New York’s toughest judges on asylum claims, was appointed Acting Assistant Chief Judge in January, a move seen by analysts as signaling a shift toward stricter immigration rulings.

The Justice Department has refused to disclose the specific reasons behind Gordon-Uruakpa’s termination, further raising questions about political interference in immigration courts and the independence of judges handling asylum cases, an action critics note differs from practices under previous U.S. administrations, which rarely removed judges over their asylum approval records.

SaharaReporters


Gordon-Uruakpa is a Black, a female jurist married to a Nigerian-American, after she approved asylum claims at one of the highest rates in the country.

Trump is evil, his just the Buhari of America, the damage he will cause America can’t be fix in decades to come

It is well even in the well.

Donald Trump Migwo!

This is crazy. It's mind boggling how many Nigerians were really championing for his return to the White House.

Thank God for President Tinubu. He doesn't sack judges but inspire them. Trump seems to act like a dictator

This judge self like money

Is it now a crime for the police to let go 100 drivers if all of them have a drivers license?

Trump is just the American version of Portable! That dude’s brain needs to be studied.

No excuse about a particular case, with reasons to back up? Dumbo just thought it shouldn’t be that way!

He doesn’t even understand percentage and sure he just inflated it.

Nice one trump. Nigerians love you

As long as the APC and PDP have been recognize by some foreign govt to be terrorist groups, I am not surprised with whatever happens with their Immigration policies on Nigeria. This is what you get when you are ruled by a terrorist govt.

#freeMNK

Well it's quite sad she lost her job but we still love Trump none the less

If 97% of them deserve their asylum, they should be granted.

Judge Aileen Cannon always rules in favour of Trump.

Is she corrupt?

United States Department of Justice (DOJ) under President Donald Trump has quietly dismissed a New York-based immigration judge, Vivienne Gordon-Uruakpa.

Olamila:
Trump is evil, his just the Buhari of America, the damage he will cause America can’t be fix in decades to come

How dare you compare Buhari to Trump? Na ment?

The Orange Mussolini at it again.

This evil called Trump lol

What do we do with this news now

folake4u:
Donald Trump Migwo!

This is crazy. It's mind boggling how many Nigerians were really championing for his return to the White House.

So you think many Nigerians have sense
Our politicians reflect the people

folake4u:
Donald Trump Migwo!

This is crazy. It's mind boggling how many Nigerians were really championing for his return to the White House.

They’ll learn the really hard way

Maybe she too has been compromising cases 🤔

It’s hard to imagine that Trump have only spent one year out of four and had embarked on many disruptive activities.

What exactly is Donald Trump's end game? To make America like Argentina where there are no people of colour?

Trump's action reminds me of late Buhari's inauguration quote....I belong to everyone and i belong to nobody . He should spend the 3 yrs left in peace. E go soon finish. Buhari's 8-year tenure seemed like something that would never end.

If they don't have clear rules and flow charts within the immigration approval process then the entire fiasco is on them.... because any deviation outside of such laid-down rules would've had to come with solid justification on her part

I wonder how much she made though, prolly in the low millions

folake4u:
Donald Trump Migwo!

This is crazy. It's mind boggling how many Nigerians were really championing for his return to the White House.

Na those ones that believes he will be coming to carve their region out of Nigeria.

Danielaka:
This judge self like money

What rawbish is this one saying?

ClassicMan202:
All these data boys whining about Trump.... Look inwards and be ashamed of your president

Abeg face the topic of don't have anything better thing to say move.

cococandy:
They’ll learn the really hard way

Indeed, they will.

Your signature is apt. Succinctly put.

Racist(Trump) claiming he loves Nigeria Christians while busy crucifying the same Nigeria Christians in his country.

Bleep America president (Donald Trump)

AgubataAkokwa:
As long as the APC and PDP have been recognize by some foreign govt to be terrorist groups, I am not surprised with whatever happens with their Immigration policies on Nigeria. This is what you get when you are ruled by a terrorist govt.

#freeMNK

Did the post mention what countries that she handled their asylum cases. You don't care but people like you will still be Nigerians over there for money.

Olamila:
Trump is evil, his just the Buhari of America, the damage he will cause America can’t be fix in decades to come

is trump worse than buhari and Tinubu both introduced nepotism and tribalism in Nigeria,buhari started with fulanization and Tinubu yorubanization