Trump White House renews crucial pledge as left-wing activists sue over border crackdown
The Trump administration is facing a new legal challenge from left-wing activist groups, led by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), over its efforts to restrict the use of asylum at the southern border. This lawsuit comes as President Donald Trump signed executive orders on his first day in office, declaring a national emergency at the border and allowing officials to remove immigrants without giving them the opportunity to request asylum, citing an “invasion” at the border.
The crackdown at the border also included deploying the military and ending parole programs, leading to a significant decrease in border numbers in the first week of the Trump administration compared to the last week of the Biden administration. The ACLU and other groups argue that the administration’s actions are unlawful under U.S. asylum law, which allows immigrants to apply for asylum even if they entered the country illegally.
The lawsuit claims that the administration’s order is “unlawful” and “unprecedented,” going against what Congress has decreed in statute. It is accused of returning asylum seekers, including families and unaccompanied children, to countries where they could face persecution or torture without allowing them to invoke the protections provided by Congress.
Lee Gelernt, deputy director of the ACLU’s Immigrants’ Rights Project, called the administration’s actions an “unprecedented power grab” that puts countless lives in danger. The lawsuit has been joined by other organizations such as the National Immigrant Justice Center, Texas Civil Rights Project, the Center for Gender & Refugee Studies, and the ACLU chapters in the District of Columbia and Texas.
In response to the lawsuit, the White House has indicated that it has no plans to change course from its current trajectory. A spokesperson stated that President Trump was elected to end the disregard and abuse of immigration laws and secure the borders, emphasizing that the administration will continue to prioritize the interests of Americans.
This is not the first legal challenge from the ACLU against the Trump administration. A previous lawsuit was filed over Trump’s order ending birthright citizenship for the children of illegal immigrants and those with temporary visas. The administration has vowed to face these legal challenges in court, describing them as an extension of the Left’s resistance.
As the legal battle continues, it remains to be seen how the courts will rule on the administration’s actions regarding asylum and immigration policies. Stay tuned for updates on this developing story.
