Federal Appeals Court Blocks Trump's Asylum Order

A federal appeals court on Friday blocked President Donald Trump's executive order suspending asylum access for migrants at the U.S. southern border, ruling that the policy violates existing immigration laws. The decision by a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit represents a significant setback to the president's efforts to restrict migration shortly after taking office in January 2025.

The order, issued on Trump's inauguration day, declared the situation at the southern border an "invasion" and suspended the physical entry of migrants along with their ability to seek asylum until the president determined the threat had ended. It also directed the Department of Homeland Security to implement new summary removal procedures, including direct repatriation and expedited removal, without allowing asylum officers to assess credible fear claims of persecution or torture.

In a 2-1 decision, the panel concluded that the Immigration and Nationality Act does not authorize the president to create his own removal processes, suspend asylum applications or limit protections against removal to countries where individuals face persecution or...