US Appeals Court Rejects Trumps Ban on Asylum Seekers

US Appeals Court Rules Trump’s Asylum Ban Unlawful

A three-judge panel from the US Court of Appeals in Washington, DC has ruled that President Donald Trump’s ban on asylum applications in the United States is unlawful. The decision was released on Friday and found that existing laws, specifically the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), give people the right to apply for asylum at the border.

The ruling stated that Congress did not intend to grant the Executive branch expansive removal authority, and that Trump’s proclamation suspending asylum unilaterally was within question. The court also noted that the INA’s removal procedures were being circumvented by the proclamation.

The decision validated a lower court’s ruling and blocked Trump’s order. However, it is unclear what the immediate impact of this decision will be. The White House has already announced plans to appeal the ruling.

In January 2025, Trump issued a proclamation suspending “the physical entry of aliens involved in an invasion into the United States across the southern border.” This move was quickly challenged in court and resulted in the current ruling.

The INA provides protections for individuals facing persecution based on various grounds, including race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or membership in a particular social group. These protections are recognized as a fundamental human right under international law.

According to the Department of Homeland Security, nearly 945,000 people filed for asylum in 2023. The Trump administration’s immigration crackdown has been a major focus of his re-election campaign, with promises to repel migrants by shutting down the southern border.

The appeals court panel concluded that the INA does not authorize the president to remove individuals under procedures of his own making or to suspend their right to apply for asylum. The ruling will likely be appealed to the full appellate court and subsequently to the Supreme Court.

Source: Al Jazeera