The Trump administration had been hoping to stem the flow of immigrants into the United States by forcing asylum seekers to return to Mexico while their court cases played out. The so-called Migrant Protection Protocols (MPP) policy had been used to remove several hundred people from American soil.
Now, U.S. District Judge Richard Seeborg has blocked the program.
The MPP policy had been an experimental one that started in January at the San Ysidro port of entry in California. The Department of Homeland Security had been seeking to expand the policy to other ports before the court stepped in and blocked it.
The ruling is a preliminary injunction that will stop the forced removals to Mexico, at least temporarily. Seeborg argued that the program may violate the Immigration and Nationality Act, as well as the Administrative Procedures Act.
However, Seeborg also claimed that Congress could create an MPP-style program.
The U.S. government could appeal the ruling in the U.S. Court of Appeals.
While the government has not formally indicated whether it will do so, an appeal seems likely given President Donald Trump’s stance on immigration.
The White House has argued that asylum seekers are essentially carrying out a scam. Officials claim that asylum seekers are being coached to make false claims so that they are then released into the United States.
Related: Pentagon Awards Contracts to Construction Companies to Build the Border Wall
However, pro-immigration parties point to widespread droughts, crime, and other issues across Latin America.
Once a migrant reaches United States soil, that person has a legal right to seek asylum.
Related: Twice-Deported Illegal Alien Does the Unthinkable, ICE Calls Out the State of N.J.
Some migrants are held in detention centers while their cases are heard.
Others are simply released.
Currently, bed space is highly limited and the government has come under fire for conditions at detention centers.
Brian Brinker is a political consultant and has an M.A. in global affairs from American University. This OpsLens piece is used by permission.
Read more at OpLens:
Medal of Honor Recipients Honored in Netflix Docudrama
Andrew Gillum: Cops Who Draw Guns Have Already Gone Too Far
Politicization of Tragedy: A Go-To Tactic of the Anti-Gun Left
The opinions expressed by contributors and/or content partners are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of LifeZette.
Join the Discussion
COMMENTS POLICY: We have no tolerance for messages of violence, racism, vulgarity, obscenity or other such discourteous behavior. Thank you for contributing to a respectful and useful online dialogue.