The Supreme Court has ruled that the Trump administration can continue to enforce the “Remain in Mexico” policy which makes migrants who apply for asylum in the US remain in Mexico until their hearings.
Wednesday’s decision halts a lower court’s attempt to block the policy, which would have went into effect on Thursday.
The ruling will allow the policy to stay in place while the administration appeals the lower court’s decision.
The Hill reports that the “Remain in Mexico” policy, officially known as the Migrant Protection Protocol, has kept more than 60,000 asylum seekers out of the US while their asylum claims are processed.
Last month, the ultra-liberal 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the policy was in violation of federal law.
“The court forcefully rejected the Trump administration’s assertion that it could strand asylum seekers in Mexico and subject them to grave danger,” Judy Rabinovitz, a lawyer with the American Civil Liberties Union who argued the case against the government, said of the policy. “It’s time for the administration to follow the law and stop putting asylum seekers in harm’s way.”
Axios notes that the program has been credited for helping lower the border crossing numbers from crisis levels.
“We are gratified that the Supreme Court granted a stay, which prevents a district court injunction from impairing the security of our borders and the integrity of our immigration system. The Migrant Protection Protocols, implemented pursuant to express authority granted by Congress decades ago, have been critical to restoring the government’s ability to manage the Southwest border and to work cooperatively with the Mexican government to address illegal immigration,” a Department of Justice spokesperson said in a statement to Axios.
No comments:
Post a Comment