Federal Judge Blocks Trump Administration From Shutting Down Asylum At U.S.-Mexico Border

A federal judge blocked President Donald Trump from completely shutting down asylum claims at the U.S.-Mexico border on Wednesday.

It comes after Trump signed a proclamation in January declaring there was an “invasion” at the southern border.

He claimed that the number of people crossing had “overwhelmed the system” and it was “prevent[ing] the Federal Government from obtaining operational control of the border.”

In effect, the proclamation banned people from being able to apply for asylum or protection from deportation if they did not use an official entry point.

And even if they came through an official entry point, they could not enter without a visa or without providing medical, criminal, and other background information.

Judge Randolph D. Moss of the Federal District Court for the District of Columbia has now rejected Trump’s proclamation in a 128-page ruling.

He found that Trump did not have the relevant authority to make such an order.

The ruling agreed with the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), which had brought a lawsuit on behalf of 13 asylum seekers and several migrant groups.

The groups successfully argued that Trump’s action ignored protections put in place by Congress that ensure people have the opportunity to have their asylum claims heard.

Judge Moss recognized that the “executive branch faces enormous challenges in preventing and deterring unlawful entry” into the U.S. and in “adjudicating the overwhelming backlog of asylum claims of those who have entered the country.”

But he said neither the U.S. Constitution nor the Immigration and Nationality Act “grant the president or his delegees authority to adopt an alternative immigration system.”

Judge Moss will delay his order from taking effect for 14 days to allow the Trump administration time to appeal and prepare to implement the order.

“This is a hugely important decision. Not only will it save the lives of families fleeing grave danger, it reaffirms that the president cannot ignore the laws Congress has passed and the most basic premise of our country’s separation of powers,” said ACLU attorney Lee Gelernt, who argued the merits of the case.

As part of the ruling, Judge Moss agreed to a motion to certify a class, which means his injunction would apply broadly to all migrants affected by the proclamation, and not just the plaintiffs.

It comes after a Supreme Court ruling last week declared that federal district courts generally cannot issue nationwide injunctions, but there is an exception if a court certifies a class.

The White House has hit back at the ruling and said it intends to fight it.

In a Truth Social post on Wednesday, Trump referred to judges as “crazed” and said June’s border crossing statistics were the “lowest recorded numbers in U.S. history.”

The U.S. Border Patrol reported zero crosses and Customs and Border Protection only had 25,243 “Nationwide Encounters,” he said.

“We still have Radical Left Judges trying to open the Border, and defy the Supreme Court, which is why Republicans must be smart, strong, and never let these Crazed Judges turn us into a Third World Country,” Trump wrote.

“The Men and Women of Border Patrol, ICE, and CBP are doing an amazing job but, they need more help and, they are counting on Republicans to, GET IT DONE!”

Attorney General Pam Bondi said on X: “A rogue district court judge is already trying to circumvent the Supreme Court’s recent ruling against nationwide injunctions.

“The American people see right through this. Our attorneys @thejusticedept will fight this unconstitutional power grab as @POTUS continues to secure our border.”

White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller described Judge Moss as a “Marxist.”

“To try to circumvent the Supreme Court ruling on nationwide injunctions a marxist judge has declared that all potential FUTURE illegal aliens on foreign soil (eg a large portion of planet earth) are part of a protected global ‘class’ entitled to admission into the United States,” he posted on X.

Groups involved in the lawsuit have welcomed the judge’s ruling and say it sends a clear message to the government.

“This decision is a win for human dignity and the rule of law. It sends a clear message: the government cannot use cruelty as a weapon against people fleeing violence,” Rochelle Garza, president of the Texas Civil Rights Project, said.

“The court’s blocking of the Trump administration’s executive action underscores the inhumane and unlawful nature of this policy and strengthens our call to protect the right to seek asylum.

“The Texas Civil Rights Project will continue fighting for the rights of those seeking safety at our border.”