Chicago asylum approvals plunge as new immigration judges dismiss most cases
In Chicago, asylum grants have fallen to just 3.3% this year, with newly appointed judges denying the vast majority of applications.
A Venezuelan man who testified to police kidnapping and sexual assault was denied asylum by Judge Matthew C. Beese, who has dismissed most cases before him. Chicago's asylum approval rate has dropped to 3.3% this year, far below the national average of 2.1%, according to a Sun-Times and WBEZ analysis. The decline follows a 2025 overhaul that replaced experienced immigration judges with officials from military, administrative and prosecutorial backgrounds.
At least six judges have been terminated without explanation, and the new bench has granted only 25 of 1,638 petitions. Critics say the changes, including tighter rules and accelerated deadlines, erode due process for non-citizens. Former judges and immigration lawyers warn that the court’s independence is being compromised under one outlet Department of Justice leadership.
Why it matters
The sharp drop in asylum approvals signals a systemic shift that could affect thousands of refugees seeking protection in the United States.
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