WASHINGTON — The U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday cleared the way for the Trump administration to potentially revive a restrictive immigration policy that limited the number of asylum seekers allowed to apply at the U.S.-Mexico border.
In a 6-3 decision, the justices overturned a lower court order blocking the practice, which had been used during the Obama and first Trump administrations. The ruling in Mullin v. Al Otro Lado holds that federal law permits border officials to turn away asylum seekers at ports of entry before they physically enter the United States.
The policy at issue allowed immigration officers to limit daily asylum applications, effectively preventing many migrants from setting foot on U.S. soil to make their claims. Justice Samuel Alito, writing for the majority, concluded that individuals stopped at the border had not “arrived in” the country under the relevant statutes, meaning certain legal protections for asylum processing did not apply.
The decision comes as the Trump administration has moved aggressively on immigration enforcement in its second term. A separate 6-3 ruling on the same day allowed the administration to proceed with ending Temporary Protected Status for roughly 350,000 Haitians and thousands of Syrians, overturning lower court blocks.
The Department of Homeland Security did not immediately comment on plans to implement the asylum ruling. Administration officials have previously signaled intent to use available tools to reduce border crossings.
Critics, including immigrant rights groups, argued the policy effectively shuts the door on legitimate asylum claims. In a dissent joined by Justices Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan, Justice Sotomayor said the decision “blesses the Executive Branch’s decision to slam the door shut on all who are fleeing persecution.”
The American Immigration Council described the rulings as a significant setback for asylum rights and humanitarian protections.
The case stemmed from challenges to practices at official border crossings where migrants were blocked from entering to apply for asylum. Lower courts had previously sided with advocates who contended the policy violated federal immigration law requiring inspection of those seeking protection.
Details on the administration’s next steps remained unclear Friday. The Supreme Court’s ruling lifts injunctions but does not mandate immediate revival of the specific metering policy.
The decisions mark the latest in a series of Supreme Court actions favoring the administration’s immigration priorities this term. No further immediate legal barriers to the policy were reported.
