Federal Judge Blocks Trump’s Asylum Ban at Southern US Border
A federal judge has blocked the Trump administration’s policy banning most asylum claims at the US–Mexico border, ruling that the measure exceeds presidential authority and violates existing immigration laws.
U.S. District Judge Randolph Moss issued the ruling after reviewing the administration’s directive, which aimed to prohibit migrants crossing the southern border from applying for asylum under claims of a national security threat. The judge stated that while the government has the right to manage border security, it cannot override congressional mandates that allow individuals to seek asylum regardless of how they enter the United States.
The Trump administration argued that the policy was necessary to maintain border security and address what it described as an “invasion” of migrants, but critics maintained it unlawfully restricted access to legal protections for those fleeing violence and persecution.
Judge Moss’s decision will reinstate the processing of asylum claims at official ports of entry along the southern border. However, the court allowed a 14-day delay on enforcing the ruling to give the administration time to appeal the decision.
Immigrant rights advocates welcomed the ruling as a crucial step in protecting the rights of vulnerable individuals seeking refuge, while administration officials expressed disappointment, arguing that the policy was a needed measure to prevent illegal crossings and maintain order.
The case marks a significant moment in the ongoing legal and political debates over U.S. immigration policy, with the outcome of any appeals likely to shape the future handling of asylum claims at the border.
With input from Al Jazeera.
