A federal judge on Wednesday blocked President Donald Trump's sweeping asylum ban at the U.S.-Mexico border, ruling the administration overstepped its legal authority by suspending protections guaranteed under existing immigration law. The ruling, issued by U.S. District Judge Randolph Moss in Washington, D.C., halts enforcement of the order for 14 days while the Trump administration considers an appeal.
The decision is the latest legal blow to Trump's hardline immigration agenda, which has been a cornerstone of his second term in office. Moss, an Obama appointee, wrote in a 128-page opinion that Trump's January 20 proclamation-declaring an "invasion" at the southern border and suspending asylum for those engaged in it-exceeded powers granted by both the Constitution and the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA).
"The INA, by its terms, provides the sole and exclusive means for removing people already present in the country," Moss stated. He added that federal law does not give the president "the unilateral authority to limit the rights of aliens present in the United States to apply for asylum."
Trump's order was challenged in court by 13 asylum seekers and several immigrant rights organizations, led by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). The plaintiffs argued the policy was "as unlawful as it is unprecedented." Moss sided with them, stating that Trump "lacks the inherent constitutional authority" to create an alternative immigration system that bypasses Congress.
In a separate filing, the judge also granted class certification for individuals impacted or likely to be impacted by the order, widening the scope of legal relief.
ACLU attorney Lee Gelernt called the decision pivotal: "The ruling not only means the U.S. will once again be a safe haven for those fleeing persecution but also reaffirms that the laws Congress enacts must be respected by the president."
The White House quickly responded through Stephen Miller, Trump's deputy chief of staff for policy and homeland security advisor, who posted on X: "To try to circumvent the Supreme Court ruling on nationwide injunctions a marxist judge has declared that all potential FUTURE illegal aliens on foreign soil (eg a large portion of planet earth) are part of a protected global 'class' entitled to admission into the United States."
Trump's order marked an escalation beyond the Biden administration's 2024 restrictions, which were themselves partially blocked by another federal court in May. Since returning to office, Trump has framed migration across the southern border as an "invasion" and invoked obscure powers such as the 1798 Alien Enemies Act to justify the deportation of Venezuelan migrants alleged to be affiliated with the Tren de Aragua gang.
The administration has also rolled back Biden-era programs that provided deportation relief to nearly 1 million migrants. Legal observers say Moss's decision sets the stage for broader challenges to Trump's immigration strategy.
