A federal judge has delivered a major blow to President Donald Trump’s immigration agenda, blocking his attempt to shut down asylum access for migrants crossing between ports of entry at the southern border.
The ruling, issued by U.S. District Judge Randolph Moss, said Trump overstepped his legal authority with a first-day executive order that would have denied asylum to most people unless they entered through an official port.
Moss made it plain: the president doesn’t get to override the Immigration and Nationality Act, which says asylum seekers can request protection no matter how they arrive.
The decision stems from a lawsuit brought by 13 asylum seekers and three immigration nonprofit organizations. It now protects thousands who might have been turned away under Trump’s proclamation.
However, the ruling does not cover those already deported. The administration has 14 days to appeal.
Republicans have long targeted the asylum system, claiming it’s overwhelmed and misused. But legal experts say the law is clear — the right to seek refuge can’t be erased by executive pen.
Click play to listen to the report from AURN White House Correspondent Ebony McMorris. For more news, follow @E_N_McMorris & @aurnonline.
