Judge Blocks Trump’s Asylum Restrictions
Federal ruling halts policy that would suspend asylum requests at the border.
A U.S. federal judge has temporarily blocked an order from **Donald Trump** that sought to suspend asylum requests from migrants crossing the border with Mexico. The ruling throws into question the former president’s hard-line immigration policies.
Judge Rules Executive Overreach
In a 128-page resolution, Magistrate **Randolph Moss** of the Columbia district stated the executive branch had exceeded its authority. According to the judge, the policy would violate existing U.S. immigration law, arguing that “The president cannot adopt an alternative immigration system that supplies the statutes promulgated by Congress.”
**Moss** also asserted that neither current immigration laws nor the Constitution grants the President the power to unilaterally deny asylum to individuals already present on American soil, irrespective of their entry method.
Government’s Argument Rejected
The government had argued that an “invasion”
at the border constitutes a national security emergency, empowering the president to override congressional statutes. This argument failed to sway the court.
Timing and Potential Appeal
The ruling, which is slated to take effect in 14 days, is expected to be appealed by the **Trump** administration, potentially escalating the case to a higher court. The decision also comes shortly after the Supreme Court curtailed the power of federal judges to proactively freeze federal policies.
Notably, **Judge Moss** also certified asylum seekers in the case as a class or collective, a move that falls outside the scope of the Supreme Court’s recent decision. According to Syracuse University’s Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse, immigration court asylum denial rates have increased in recent years, reaching a high of 66.8% in fiscal year 2023 (TRAC 2023).
ACLU Responds
**Lee Gelert**, a lawyer for the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) who defended the case, commented on the ruling, stating, “This sentence means that asylum will be available for those who flee from horrible dangers and, in doing so, it reaffirms that the President must respect the laws promulgated by Congress. The decision will literally mean the difference between life and death for many families that escape religious persecution and other ways.”
Lawsuit Details
The resolution stems from a lawsuit filed by civil rights, immigrant, and refugee organizations, challenging the closure of the asylum system on the U.S.-Mexico border. The plaintiffs argued that the order, signed by **Trump** early in his presidency, endangers the lives of asylum seekers. Their core argument was that the government was contravening congressional mandates by returning asylum applicants to countries where they could face persecution or torture.
The lawsuit also challenged the president’s authority to eliminate protections for those fleeing persecution, characterizing the move as one of the most restrictive measures in **Trump’s** anti-immigration agenda.
