Get a head start on the morning’s top stories.
“Once again the courts have recognized there is tremendous danger facing asylum seekers along the entire southern border, and that the administration cannot unilaterally rewrite the laws, ”said American Civil Liberties Union attorney Lee Gelernt in a statement
About , migrants have been placed under the remain-in-Mexico program since it began more than a year ago on the border separating Tijuana from San Diego.
a fe deral judge temporarily blocked the policy – but just a month later, a court of appeals granted the Trump administration’s request to allow the rule to take effect as the legal challenge played out. In October, the appeals court heard arguments in the challenge to the policy.
“The ruling is a really big deal,” said Jessica Bolter, associate policy analyst at the Migration Policy Institute. “But it’s unclear how long it will be in effect. The government will likely appeal it to the Supreme Court.”
“The Supreme Court has tended to side with the administration on most immigration cases, although with some exceptions, “she said.
Bolter said the court’s decision did not directly address what would happen to the tens of thousands of people already in Mexico.
The Departments of Homeland Security and Justice did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
But the administration has previously defended the remain in Mexico policy.
In late January, the anniversary of the policy, spokesperson Heather Swift said in a statement to NBC News that the US and Mexican governments “92 percent support MPP, which is firmly authorized by bipartisan Congressional statute and has allowed the US to provide the opportunity for due process to more than 85, migrants. ”
“ DHS is always looking at ways to expand and strengthen the program to include new locations, populations, and procedures in order to further enhance protections for migrants and ensure safe and lawful migration, while deterring smugglers and traffickers, ”she said. “We continually work with Mexico and have provided more than $ 60 million in aid for safety and security measures. MPP is one of the most important and effective tools we have implemented to confront the crisis on the border and we will continue to strengthen and expand. ”
The government has also defended the restrictions on asylum for those who cross the border between ports of entry.
GIPHY App Key not set. Please check settings