A coalition of immigration advocacy groups filed a class-action lawsuit Wednesday challenging a Trump administration proclamation that effectively bars individuals from seeking asylum at U.S. ports of entry.
The lawsuit, filed in a Southern California federal court, targets a policy enacted on President Donald Trump’s first day in office that drastically altered asylum procedures.
Led by organizations including the Center for Gender & Refugee Studies and the American Immigration Council, the lawsuit argues the proclamation unlawfully restricts access to asylum, a right guaranteed under U.S. law. They seek to have the policy declared illegal and access to the asylum process restored at ports of entry, including for those whose appointments were canceled.
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This new lawsuit focuses on individuals not yet on U.S. soil, contrasting with a February suit concerning those already in the U.S.
The Trump administration’s proclamation claimed the existing asylum process was “wholly ineffective,” leading to “unauthorized entry.” Advocates counter that the policy imposes unlawful burdens on asylum seekers, demanding visa-like documentation from those fleeing immediate danger.
The Department of Homeland Security and Customs and Border Protection, named as defendants, have not yet issued a response. Advocates assert the policy is “in flagrant violation of U.S. law” and its outcome could significantly impact future asylum seekers at the U.S. border.
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“The Trump administration has taken drastic steps to block access to the asylum process, in flagrant violation of U.S. law,” the Center for Gender & Refugee Studies said in a news release, underscoring the legal and humanitarian concerns driving the class-action suit. The outcome of this case could have significant implications for the future of asylum seekers at the U.S. border. Sources
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