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July 26, 2023

Judge Blocks Biden Asylum Ban in Victory for Immigration Rights
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In immigration news, a federal judge in California has blocked the Biden
administration from enforcing a measure prohibiting migrants from
seeking asylum at the southern border without first applying for
protection in a country they passed through on their journey to the
United States. But U.S. District Judge Jon Tigar has delayed his ruling
for 14 days, keeping the policy in place while giving Biden officials
time to file an appeal. Tigar's decision was praised by immigration
rights activists, who've condemned President Biden for supporting asylum
bans similar to those enacted by Trump. The new asylum rules went into
effect in May, replacing the contested pandemic-era Title 42 policy,
which was used to expel nearly 3 million asylum seekers at the
U.S.-Mexico border without due process.

Biden's measure also forces migrants to make their asylum appointments
on a Customs and Border Protection smartphone app that applicants say is
riddled with issues and raises serious concerns over privacy. The ACLU
said, "The ruling is a victory, but each day the Biden administration
prolongs the fight over its illegal ban, many people fleeing persecution
and seeking safe harbor for their families are instead left in grave
danger."


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