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On Thursday morning, a young woman from Colombia dialed in remotely for her asylum hearing in San Francisco immigration court, using the court’s web conferencing application.

The judge that day, Patrick O’Brien, wanted her in the courtroom in person. He didn’t mince words.

“Good morning, ma’am,” he said. “You’re supposed to be sitting in a courtroom right now.”

“Good morning, your honor,” the woman replied, in Spanish through a court interpreter. “Yes, your honor, that’s right.”

“I know that’s right,” O’Brien said. “I’m going to reschedule your hearing for later this morning. I’m going to give you a chance to show up.”

To avoid arrest, some asyl

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