US Justice blocks Biden's asylum policy

MADRID, 26 (EUROPA PRESS)

Federal Judge Jon Tigar of the Northern District Court of California has blocked this Tuesday the asylum policy of the current United States Government, which until now had managed to reduce the crossings of irregular migrants on the border with Mexico.

The blockade of said law will be suspended for 14 days for an appeal that will be presented by the Department of Justice, as confirmed by a spokesperson for the department to CNN.

"The Department of Justice disagrees with the court's ruling today in the East Bay case and intends to appeal the decision and request a stay pending appeal. We remain confident in our position that the rule of circumvention of legal avenues is a lawful exercise of the broad authority granted by immigration laws," the spokesperson said.

Tigar had previously ruled against a similar policy of the Trump Administration, and has stated that there are hardly any differences between the two policies, something that the Government has rejected.

"Nothing has changed. There is a suspension, which means that our border control plan remains fully in force. The Department of Justice will appeal the decision and request an extension of the suspension," explained White House spokeswoman Karine Jean- Pierre, during a press conference.

"And as we have said many times, our border control plan works. It is deterrence, diplomacy and enforcement. Illegal border crossing has fallen to the lowest level of the last two years," the spokeswoman added.

The law has limited access to asylum for migrants who cross into the country through the southern border with Mexico without authorization and has created "incentives" for the use of legal processes.

These "incentives" consist of migrants who do not use the available routes to go to the United States or who do not seek humanitarian refuge in another country through which they have passed on their way to the United States will not be considered eligible for asylum--a unless they fall within certain exceptions--, after which they will be imposed a five-year re-entry ban.

Exceptions will apply to those who obtain an appointment to appear at a point of entry through the CBP One app.

Tigar's decision follows a lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and other migrant rights groups. In addition, the passage of the law was surrounded by criticism even from members of the Democratic Party.

"The ruling is a victory. (...) America's promise is to serve as a beacon of freedom and hope, and the administration can and must do better to deliver on this promise, rather than perpetuate cruel and ineffective policies that betray it." ", said the deputy director of the ACLU's Migrant Rights Project, Katrina Eiland.

The Biden Administration, for its part, has defended itself by assuring that border crossings have fallen "dramatically" since the end of Title 42, legislation implemented by the government of former President Donald Trump during the pandemic that allowed hot returns at the borders.

According to published data from the United States Customs and Border Protection, the country's authorities detained some 100,000 migrants at the southern border in June, which represents a decrease compared to May and the lowest monthly number since February 2021.