The dream of staying in California is becoming less of a lock for thousands of asylum seekers . Remaining in the United States often comes down which judge will determine their fate — and the difference is particularly stark in between San Francisco and Los Angeles. More liberal judges in the San Francisco denied just 28.5% of cases between 2020 and late 2025, while Los Angeles judges were right on the national average in denying almost 60% of applicants, according to data compiled by the