The Biden administration’s efforts to address the ongoing border crisis hit a snag as a federal judge blocked a key rule targeting migrants seeking asylum. The Circumvention of Lawful Pathways rule, introduced in May, aimed to make migrants ineligible for asylum if they entered the country illegally and did not utilize the expanded lawful pathways provided by the government.
Judge Jon Tigar, appointed during the Obama administration, issued the ruling in response to a lawsuit from left-wing immigration groups, finding the rule “both substantively and procedurally invalid.” The judge has delayed its implementation for 14 days to allow the administration to appeal.
This rule was a central part of the administration’s strategy following the expiration of the Title 42 public health order in May. It presumed migrants to be ineligible for asylum if they entered the U.S. illegally and did not seek asylum in a country they passed through. The aim was to discourage irregular migration and encourage the use of legal pathways, including the controversial CBP One app.
Critics argued that the rule was cruel and limited foreign nationals’ ability to seek asylum in the U.S. The ACLU, leading the lawsuit, celebrated the ruling as a victory, but also called for the administration to do better in providing safe harbor to those fleeing persecution.
Despite the setback, the administration saw a decline in migrant encounters in June compared to the peak in May. However, Republican-led states are also challenging the rule, arguing that it attempts to redefine illegal crossings as “lawful pathways.”
The fate of this rule and the overall handling of the border crisis will likely remain a topic of intense debate in the coming days. Stay tuned for updates on this developing situation.
Source Fox News
