Supreme Court may restrict asylum claims from those arriving at the southern border

"The Supreme Court agreed Monday to hear a Trump administration appeal that argues migrants have no right to seek asylum at the southern border. Rather, the government says border agents may block asylum seekers from stepping on to U.S. soil and turn away their claims without a hearing. The new case seeks to clarify the immigration laws and resolve an issue that has divided past administrations and the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals."

"'A person who presents herself to an official at the border has 'arrived.' She said this interpretation 'does not radically expand the right to asylum.' By contrast, the 'government's reading would reflect a radical reconstruction of the right to apply for asylum because it would give the executive branch vast discretion to prevent people from applying by blocking them at the border.'"

The Supreme Court agreed to hear an appeal asserting that migrants have no right to seek asylum at the southern border. The government argues that border agents may block asylum seekers from stepping onto U.S. soil and turn away their claims without a hearing. Federal law allows migrants who face persecution to apply for asylum if they are physically present in the United States or arrive in the United States. Since 2016 administrations have used temporary rules requiring migrants to wait on the Mexican side before applying. A divided 9th Circuit ruled those restrictions illegal if they prevented migrants from applying. Judge Michelle Friedland wrote that to 'arrive' means to reach a destination and concluded that a noncitizen stopped by U.S. officials at the border is eligible to apply for asylum.

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