The Department of Justice's recent closure of the San Francisco immigration court has sparked significant concern among legal experts and advocates, who fear it will exacerbate the already substantial backlog of immigration cases in the Bay Area. With 120,000 pending cases in San Francisco alone and 3.75 million nationwide, the closure is seen as a detrimental move. The remaining operations will shift to a smaller court in Concord, California, located 35 miles (56 km) away, which opened in 2024 as part of efforts to reduce case backlogs. However, the Concord court has recently seen the removal of six judges, raising doubts about its ability to manage the increased workload. Legal professionals warn that the delays could lead to severe consequences for migrants, including life-threatening situations if they miss court dates due to communication issues or unstable addresses. The situation has already caused chaos within the system, with court dates being rescheduled and individuals potentially falling through the cracks of the legal process.