logo
Judge Blocks Order Barring Asylum Access at Border and Gives Administration Two Weeks to Appeal

Judge Blocks Order Barring Asylum Access at Border and Gives Administration Two Weeks to Appeal

Al Arabiya02-07-2025
A federal judge ruled on Wednesday that President Donald Trump's order suspending asylum access at the southern border was unlawful, jeopardizing a cornerstone of the president's plan to curb migration. However, the ruling was put on hold for two weeks to allow the government time to appeal.
In a January 20 order, Trump declared the situation at the southern border an 'invasion' of America and suspended migrants' physical entry and ability to seek asylum indefinitely. US District Judge Randolph Moss in Washington stated that his order blocking Trump's policy will take effect July 16, giving the Trump administration time to appeal. Moss wrote that neither the Constitution nor immigration law permits the president an 'extra-statutory, extra-regulatory regime' for repatriating or removing individuals from the US without an opportunity to apply for asylum or other humanitarian protections.
The Department of Homeland Security didn't immediately respond to a request for comment, but an appeal is likely. The president and his aides have frequently criticized court rulings that undermine his policies as judicial overreach. The ruling follows a sharp drop in illegal border crossings. The White House stated on Wednesday that Border Patrol made 6,070 arrests in June, down 30 percent from May and on pace for the lowest annual figure since 1966. On June 28, Border Patrol made only 137 arrests, a stark contrast to late 2023 when arrests exceeded 10,000 on the busiest days. Arrests declined dramatically when Mexican officials increased enforcement within their own borders in December 2023 and again when then-President Joe Biden introduced stricter asylum restrictions in June 2024. They fell further after Trump became president in January, deploying thousands of troops to the border under a national emergency declaration.
Trump and his allies contend that the asylum system is being abused. They argue that it attracts people who know it will take years to process their claims in the country's backlogged immigration courts, during which time they can work and live in America. But supporters maintain that the right to seek asylum is guaranteed by US law and international commitments–even for those who cross the border illegally. They say that asylum offers vital protection for people fleeing persecution–a protection guaranteed by Congress that even the president lacks the authority to disregard. People seeking asylum must demonstrate a credible fear of persecution based on race, religion, nationality, or membership in a particular social or political group.
In the executive order, Trump argued that the Immigration and Nationality Act empowers presidents to suspend the entry of any group they deem detrimental to US interests. Groups working with immigrants–the Arizona-based Florence Project, the El Paso, Texas-based Las Americas Immigrant Advocacy Center, and the Texas-based RAICES–filed the lawsuit against the government, arguing that the president was wrong to equate migrants arriving at the southern border with an 'invasion.' They also argued that Trump's proclamation amounted to the president unilaterally overriding 'the immigration laws Congress enacted for the protection of people who face persecution or torture if removed from the United States.'
However, the government argued that because both foreign policy and immigration enforcement fall under the executive branch, the declaration of an 'invasion' was entirely within the president's authority. 'The determination that the United States is facing an invasion is an unreviewable political question,' the government wrote in one argument.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Zelenskiy Says Ukraine Has Secured Three Patriot Systems, Looking to Finance Seven More
Zelenskiy Says Ukraine Has Secured Three Patriot Systems, Looking to Finance Seven More

Asharq Al-Awsat

time3 hours ago

  • Asharq Al-Awsat

Zelenskiy Says Ukraine Has Secured Three Patriot Systems, Looking to Finance Seven More

Ukraine has received confirmation from partners that they will provide three Patriot missile defense systems and discussions are underway to obtain seven more, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Thursday. "I have officially received confirmation from Germany for two systems, and from Norway for one. We are currently working with Dutch partners," he told reporters. President Donald Trump announced earlier this month that billions of dollars of US weapons would go to Ukraine, including Patriot missiles. This set off negotiations around which partners could contribute to the weapons purchasing scheme -- a process that will determine the support Ukraine receives, Reuters said. The Patriot systems have proven effective at destroying Russian ballistic missiles aimed at Ukraine's cities. In addition to securing air defense supplies, Ukraine needs to cover a financing gap of $40 billion next year, Zelenskiy said in remarks released by his office. An additional $25 billion will be needed for missiles, drones and electronic warfare systems production, he added.

Europeans and Iran Meet in Istanbul as the Return of Sanctions Looms over Nuclear Deadlock
Europeans and Iran Meet in Istanbul as the Return of Sanctions Looms over Nuclear Deadlock

Asharq Al-Awsat

time5 hours ago

  • Asharq Al-Awsat

Europeans and Iran Meet in Istanbul as the Return of Sanctions Looms over Nuclear Deadlock

Iranian and European diplomats are set to meet in Istanbul Friday to embark on the latest drive to unpick the deadlock over Tehran's nuclear program. Representatives from Britain, France and Germany, known as the E3 nations, will gather at the Iranian consulate building for the first talks since Iran's 12-day war with Israel in June, which involved US bombers striking nuclear-related facilities. The talks are centered on the possibility of reimposing sanctions on Iran that were lifted in 2015 in exchange for Iran accepting restrictions and monitoring of its nuclear program, said The Associated Press. The return of sanctions, known as a 'snapback' mechanism, 'remains on the table,' according to a European diplomat speaking on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the talks. 'A possible delay in triggering snapback has been floated to the Iranians on the condition that there is credible diplomatic engagement by Iran, that they resume full cooperation with the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency), and that they address concerns about their highly-enriched uranium stockpile,' the diplomat said. European leaders have said sanctions will resume by the end of August if there is no progress on containing Iran's nuclear program. Tehran, meanwhile, has said the US, which withdrew from the 2015 deal during President Donald Trump 's first term, needs to rebuild faith in its role in negotiations. Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said Iran's engagement was dependent on 'several key principles' that included 'rebuilding Iran's trust – as Iran has absolutely no trust in the United States.' In a social media post Thursday, he also said the talks shouldn't be used 'as a platform for hidden agendas such as military action.' Gharibabadi insisted that Iran's right to enrich uranium 'in line with its legitimate needs' be respected and sanctions removed. Iran has repeatedly threatened to leave the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty, which commits it to refrain from developing nuclear weapons, if sanctions return. Friday's talks will be held at the deputy ministerial level, with Iran sending Deputy Foreign Minister Majid Takht-e Ravanchi. A similar meeting was held in Istanbul in May. The identity of the E3 representatives were not immediately clear but the European Union's deputy foreign policy commissioner is expected to attend. The UK, France and Germany were signatories to the 2015 deal, alongside the US, Russia and China. When the US withdrew in 2018, Trump insisted the agreement wasn't tough enough. Under the original deal, neither Russia nor China can veto reimposed sanctions. Since the Israeli and US strikes on Iran, which saw American B-52 bombers hit three nuclear sites, Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has accused the E3 of hypocrisy, saying they failed to uphold their obligations while supporting Israel's attacks. Against the backdrop of the conflict, which saw Iran respond with missile attacks on Israel and a strike on a US base in Qatar, the road ahead remains uncertain While European officials have said they want to avoid further conflict and are open to a negotiated solution, they have warned that time is running out. Tehran maintains it is open to diplomacy, though it recently suspended cooperation with the IAEA. A central concern for Western powers was highlighted when the IAEA reported in May that Iran's stockpile of uranium enriched to 60% – just below weapons-grade level – had grown to over 400 kilograms (882 pounds). In an interview with Al Jazeera that aired Wednesday, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Iran is prepared for another war and reiterated that its nuclear program will continue within the framework of international law while adding the country had no intention of pursuing nuclear weapons. A spokesman for Iran's Atomic Energy Organization said Thursday the country's nuclear industry would 'grow back and thrive again' after the recent attacks by Israel and the US.

Europeans and Iran meet in Istanbul as the return of sanctions looms over nuclear deadlock
Europeans and Iran meet in Istanbul as the return of sanctions looms over nuclear deadlock

Arab News

time7 hours ago

  • Arab News

Europeans and Iran meet in Istanbul as the return of sanctions looms over nuclear deadlock

ISTANBUL: Iranian and European diplomats are set to meet in Istanbul Friday to embark on the latest drive to unpick the deadlock over Tehran's nuclear program. Representatives from Britain, France and Germany, known as the E3 nations, will gather at the Iranian consulate building for the first talks since Iran's 12-day war with Israel in June, which involved US bombers striking nuclear-related facilities. The talks are centered on the possibility of reimposing sanctions on Iran that were lifted in 2015 in exchange for Iran accepting restrictions and monitoring of its nuclear program. The return of sanctions, known as a 'snapback' mechanism, 'remains on the table,' according to a European diplomat speaking on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the talks. 'A possible delay in triggering snapback has been floated to the Iranians on the condition that there is credible diplomatic engagement by Iran, that they resume full cooperation with the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency), and that they address concerns about their highly-enriched uranium stockpile,' the diplomat said. European leaders have said sanctions will resume by the end of August if there is no progress on containing Iran's nuclear program. Tehran, meanwhile, has said the US, which withdrew from the 2015 deal during President Donald Trump 's first term, needs to rebuild faith in its role in negotiations. Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said Iran's engagement was dependent on 'several key principles' that included 'rebuilding Iran's trust – as Iran has absolutely no trust in the United States.' In a social media post Thursday, he also said the talks shouldn't be used 'as a platform for hidden agendas such as military action.' Gharibabadi insisted that Iran's right to enrich uranium 'in line with its legitimate needs' be respected and sanctions removed. Iran has repeatedly threatened to leave the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty, which commits it to refrain from developing nuclear weapons, if sanctions return. Friday's talks will be held at the deputy ministerial level, with Iran sending Deputy Foreign Minister Majid Takht-e Ravanchi. A similar meeting was held in Istanbul in May. The identity of the E3 representatives were not immediately clear but the European Union's deputy foreign policy commissioner is expected to attend. The UK, France and Germany were signatories to the 2015 deal, alongside the US, Russia and China. When the US withdrew in 2018, Trump insisted the agreement wasn't tough enough. Under the original deal, neither Russia nor China can veto reimposed sanctions. Since the Israeli and US strikes on Iran, which saw American B-52 bombers hit three nuclear sites, Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has accused the E3 of hypocrisy, saying they failed to uphold their obligations while supporting Israel's attacks. Against the backdrop of the conflict, which saw Iran respond with missile attacks on Israel and a strike on a US base in Qatar, the road ahead remains uncertain While European officials have said they want to avoid further conflict and are open to a negotiated solution, they have warned that time is running out. Tehran maintains it is open to diplomacy, though it recently suspended cooperation with the IAEA. A central concern for Western powers was highlighted when the IAEA reported in May that Iran's stockpile of uranium enriched to 60 percent – just below weapons-grade level – had grown to over 400 kilograms (882 pounds). In an interview with Al Jazeera that aired Wednesday, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Iran is prepared for another war and reiterated that its nuclear program will continue within the framework of international law while adding the country had no intention of pursuing nuclear weapons. A spokesman for Iran's Atomic Energy Organization said Thursday the country's nuclear industry would 'grow back and thrive again' after the recent attacks by Israel and the US

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store