Trump administration asks Supreme Court to allow asylum ban

The Trump administration is asking the Supreme Court to allow enforcement of a ban on asylum for any immigrants who illegally cross the U.S.-Mexico border.

Two federal courts have temporarily blocked the policy President Trump announced in November in response to caravans of migrants that were approaching the border. Last week, the federal appeals court in San Francisco said the ban is inconsistent with federal law and an attempted end-run around Congress.

The administration said in court papers that the nationwide order preventing the policy from taking effect "is deeply flawed" and should be lifted pending an appeal that could reach the high court.

Solicitor General Noel Francisco wrote in his Supreme Court filing, Trump's proclamation is among measures that "are designed to channel asylum seekers to ports of entry, where their claims can be processed in an orderly manner; discourage unlawful and dangerous border crossings; and reduce the backlog of meritless asylum claims." American Civil Liberties Union lawyer Lee Gelernt who represents immigrant advocacy groups challenging the asylum policy, said "the Trump administration is asking the Supreme Court to short-circuit the normal judicial process and reinstate a blatantly unlawful policy."

Justice Elena Kagan, who handles emergency appeals from California and other western states, called for a response from opponents of the asylum policy by midday Monday.

Previous
Previous

California fire chief: State must adapt to new wildfire norm

Next
Next

South Orange County Community College District board reorganizes