Federal Judge Blocks Trump’s Suspension of Asylum at Southern Border
In a significant legal development, a federal judge in Washington, D.C. has ruled against the Trump administration’s attempt to block asylum seekers from entering the United States via the southern border. This decision reaffirms that the president does not have the authority to unilaterally disrupt the established asylum process.
The controversial order, issued by President Trump upon taking office, aimed to prevent individuals crossing the southern border from applying for asylum. This move was immediately contested by numerous immigrant rights organizations and sparked widespread debate about the limits of presidential powers regarding immigration policies.
Since its inception in 1980, U.S. asylum law has granted protection to individuals who can demonstrate a credible fear of persecution in their home countries. Although previous presidents have attempted to tighten asylum regulations, Trump’s directive marked an unprecedented move to completely halt the process at the border.
“This is a flat-out ban on all asylum,” stated Lee Gelernt, deputy director of the ACLU’s Immigrants’ Rights Project, in an interview with NPR. “This is way beyond anything that even President Trump has tried in the past.”
A coalition of advocacy groups, including the ACLU, the Texas Civil Rights Project, and the National Immigrant Justice Center, promptly filed a lawsuit challenging the policy. They argued that the proclamation put thousands of lives at risk by denying refuge to those escaping violence and persecution.
U.S. District Judge Randolph D. Moss, in his 128-page opinion, emphasized that the president cannot implement an immigration system that overrides congressional statutes. The ruling, set to take effect in two weeks, is expected to be appealed by the Trump administration.
Criticism of the policy also focused on the administration’s depiction of the border situation as an “invasion.” In response to the ruling, White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller expressed his disapproval on social media, describing the judge as “a marxist” and claiming the decision implies potential future illegal immigrants are entitled to U.S. entry.
A migrant seeking asylum holds up the CBP One app showing his appointment was canceled after President Donald Trump was sworn into office, Jan. 20, 2025, in Matamoros, Mexico. A federal judge Wednesday struck down Trump’s suspension of asylums at the southern border.
Eric Gay/AP
This article was originally written by www.npr.org
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