In a significant setback for the Biden administration, a federal judge has ruled against the controversial asylum policy, dealing a blow to their efforts to manage the US-Mexico border and curb illegal crossings.

The policy, which had been in effect since May 12, aimed to restrict asylum applications for those who entered the United States without following proper procedures at an official port of entry or seeking legal protection in another country during their journey.

The ruling, issued by Judge Jon Tigar of the California Northern District Court, comes as immigrant advocacy groups challenged the administration’s decision to limit asylum access for a large number of migrants.

This policy shift marked a departure from the long-standing protocol, and it garnered criticism from Biden allies, Democratic lawmakers, and immigrant advocates when it was first introduced.

The Biden administration had implemented a series of measures in an attempt to manage the influx of migrants and address the situation at the US-Mexico border.

However, their approach faced multiple legal challenges, including lawsuits from Republican states and advocacy groups.

The recent court ruling is expected to have far-reaching implications for border policies and migrant flows.

The lawsuit that led to the ruling was brought by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and other immigrant rights groups.

The policy in question largely barred migrants who passed through another country from seeking asylum in the United States.

The court’s decision was met with approval from the ACLU, which lauded it as a victory for migrant rights.

“The promise of America is to serve as a beacon of freedom and hope, and the administration can and should do better to fulfill this promise, rather than perpetuate cruel and ineffective policies that betray it,” stated Katrina Eiland, deputy director of the ACLU’s Immigrants’ Rights Project.

The Justice Department is expected to appeal the ruling, and if an appeal is pursued, the case will be brought before the Ninth Circuit, where Judge Tigar’s rulings on similar policies under the Trump administration were previously affirmed.

The Biden administration had emphasized the necessity of the asylum policy in managing the border crisis and contended that the rule had exemptions and other lawful pathways for migrants seeking entry to the United States.

However, Judge Tigar expressed skepticism during the court hearing, arguing that the policy resembled a rule from the Trump era that he had previously blocked.

Critics of the policy argued that it left migrants vulnerable to extortion and violence during extended stays in Mexican border towns.

The judge also found fault with the government’s implementation of the rule, stating that it violated the Administrative Procedures Act and, therefore, was arbitrary and capricious.

Since the introduction of the asylum policy, the number of migrants apprehended at the southern border had significantly decreased.

The administration pointed to this decline as evidence of the effectiveness of their approach, which included lifting the public health measure known as Title 42, leading to fewer expulsions of illegal crossers.

Nevertheless, the Biden administration continues to face challenges in dealing with the ongoing mass movement of people from the Western hemisphere, a situation influenced by the aftermath of the coronavirus pandemic and deteriorating conditions in the region.

The influx has placed a strain on federal resources, particularly with an increasing number of migrants from countries with strained diplomatic relations, such as Cuba, Venezuela, and Nicaragua.

As the legal battle over the asylum policy unfolds, the fate of migrants seeking asylum in the United States hangs in the balance.

The ruling is poised to shape the nation’s border policies and influence the ongoing debate surrounding immigration reform and border security.

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CNN

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asylum policy Biden administration border crossings federal judge immigrant advocacy groups immigration ruling US-Mexico border