Judge blocks Trump's ban on asylum claims at US-Mexico border
District Judge Randolph Moss, in a case brought by immigrant rights groups and asylum seekers, said Trump's proclamation barring asylum requests exceeded his legal authority and is a violation of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA).
"Congress has crafted detailed rules and procedures that would be rendered meaningless if an agency were free to adopt its own rules and procedures in place of those that Congress enacted," Moss said.
The judge said asylum applications are governed by the INA and the president cannot "adopt an alternative immigration system which supplants the statutes that Congress has enacted."
Trump campaigned for president promising to expel millions of undocumented migrants from the United States, and he has taken a number of actions since returning to the White House in January aimed at speeding up deportations and reducing border crossings.
But his mass deportation efforts have been thwarted or stalled by numerous courts, including the Supreme Court, over concerns that migrant rights to due process are being ignored.
In his opinion, Moss said the court "recognises that the Executive Branch faces enormous challenges in preventing and deterring unlawful entry into the United States and in adjudicating the overwhelming backlog of asylum claims."
"But the INA, by its terms, provides the sole and exclusive means for removing people already present in the country," the judge said.
Moss, an appointee of former president Barack Obama, put his ruling on hold for 14 days to give the Trump administration time to appeal.
White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller condemned the judge's decision.
"A marxist judge has declared that all potential FUTURE illegal aliens on foreign soil (eg a large portion of planet earth) are part of a protected global 'class' entitled to admission into the United States," Miller said on X.--AFP
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Star
an hour ago
- The Star
Japan PM says won't 'easily compromise' to Trump on tariffs
Japan Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba speaks during a news conference at the prime minister's office in Tokyo, Japan. - Photo: AP file TOKYO: Japan's Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said Sunday (July 6) he won't "easily compromise" in talks with Washington as Tokyo seeks to avert President Donald Trump's threat to impose tariffs of up to 35 percent on Japanese goods. "We will not easily compromise. That's why it is taking time and why it is tough," Ishiba told a television talk show. His comments came as Japan rushes to negotiate with the Trump administration before the Wednesday deadline for trade deals. While Trump imposed a sweeping 10 percent tariff on imports from most trading partners in April, he unveiled -- then paused -- higher rates on dozens of economies including Japan to allow room for negotiations. This pause will expire July 9, meaning the elevated rates are due to kick in if countries fail to reach agreements with Washington to avert them. Trump has said he was going to write a letter to Japan, asking it to "pay a 30 percent, 35 percent or whatever the number is that we determine," and called the bilateral trade relation "unfair". He has particularly pressed Japan to accept more US automobiles and rice. Ryosei Akazawa, Tokyo's trade envoy, held telephone calls with US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick on Thursday and Saturday. In the Sunday television show, Ishiba reiterated that Japan, as the biggest investor nation in the US economy, should be treated differently from other countries. "What is unfair? How is it unfair? We need to examine each one" of the US claims, he said. "We are allies, but we have to say what we have to say. We are the world's largest investor nation and the largest job creator (in the US). We are different," he said. On another Sunday television show, Ishiba said Japan was "preparing to deal with all kinds of situations", when asked about how he plans to deal with Trump's letter. - AFP
New Straits Times
2 hours ago
- New Straits Times
Gaza conflict remains key focus at Asean foreign ministers' meeting
KUALA LUMPUR: The ongoing oppression of Palestinians will remain a key issue for Asean, especially in light of the potential 60-day ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, said Foreign Ministry secretary-general Datuk Seri Amran Mohamed Zin. Speaking at a curtain-raiser press conference ahead of the 58th Asean Foreign Ministers' Meeting (AMM) and related events, Amran said the Asean foreign ministers would continue to monitor developments closely. "This issue remains a priority for Asean. We will continue to observe the situation in the coming days. "Any positive progress, particularly regarding a ceasefire, will certainly be a topic of discussion. "The foreign ministers will work towards forming a common position in response to the latest developments," he said. On Wednesday, former US president Donald Trump reportedly said that Israel had agreed to the "necessary conditions" to finalise a 60-day ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. He added that Qatar and Egypt, the mediators in the ceasefire talks, would deliver the "final proposal" to Hamas. Hamas later said it had responded "in a positive spirit" to the US-brokered proposal and was prepared to enter into talks to implement the deal, which includes the release of hostages and negotiations to end the conflict. It was also reported that Trump would host Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House on Monday to press for an end to the war in Gaza. Trump has pledged to take a tougher stance on Netanyahu as he aims to capitalise on the momentum from the Iran-Israel truce to help broker peace in Gaza. The 58th AMM and related meetings, held under Malaysia's 2025 Asean Chairmanship themed Inclusivity and Sustainability, will feature 24 ministerial-level meetings, including engagements with Asean Dialogue Partners and Sectoral Dialogue Partners. In conjunction with the meetings, Malaysia will also host the Fourth Conference on Cooperation among East Asian Countries for Palestinian Development (CEAPAD IV). Co-chaired with Japan and Palestine, the conference will discuss initiatives to support Gaza's reconstruction and the broader development of Palestine. The high-level meetings, to be held at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC) from July 8 to 11, are expected to gather about 1,500 delegates, including foreign ministers from Asean member states, Timor Leste, Asean Dialogue Partners, Asean Regional Forum (ARF) participants, Sectoral Dialogue Partners and senior officials from the Asean Secretariat.
The Star
3 hours ago
- The Star
Japan tariff negotiator held in-depth talks with Lutnick, Japanese government says
(From right) Japan's Economic Revitalisation Minister Ryosei Akazawa poses with US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer in Washington on May 1. - Photo: AFP TOKYO/BRIDGEWATER, New Jersey, (Japan/US): Japan's tariff negotiator Ryosei Akazawa held "in-depth exchanges" over the phone with US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick on Thursday (July 3) and Saturday (July 5), the Japanese government said. A pause on a 24% reciprocal tariff on imports from Japan expires on July 9, although US President Donald Trump has suggested the rate could be even higher. The Japanese government also said in a statement that it intends to continue actively coordinating with the United States' side on the matter, as it worked to avert higher tariffs. The White House declined to comment on the report, referring only to Trump's recent comments on Japan. Trump this week hammered Japan over what he said was Tokyo's reluctance to import US-grown rice, and accusing Japan of engaging in "unfair" autos trade. Japan has in fact imported historically high volumes of US rice in recent months as domestically grown rice has skyrocketed in price since last year. It was unclear if Trump would make good his pledge to skip further trade negotiations with Japan and send it a letter with a specific tariff rate, on top of the 10% already in effect on most trading partners. On Friday he said he had signed letters to 12 countries and they would be going out on Monday, but did not identify them. He expressed doubt that a deal could be reached with Japan on Tuesday, and suggested he could impose a tariff of 30% or 35% on imports from Japan - well above the 24% tariff rate he announced on April 2. Japanese Prime Minster Shigeru Ishiba on Wednesday said he was determined to protect his country's national interests as trade negotiations with the United States struggled, noting that his country was the largest investor in the United States. Tokyo has yet to secure a trade deal after nearly three months of negotiations as it scrambles to find ways to get Washington to exempt Japan's automakers from 25% automobile industry-specific tariffs, which are hurting the country's manufacturing sector. - Reuters
