Appeal Approved Deport Asylum-Seekers

An appeals court upheld President Trump’s “wait in Mexico” policy on Tuesday, a rule that bars asylum-seekers from entering the U.S. until they have an official asylum hearing. The policy, formally known as the Migration Protection Protocols, was initially struck down by a California circuit court judge in April.

“It is intended to crack down on asylum claims, which have soared as Central American migrants have crossed the United States’ southwestern border in ever-larger numbers over the past year,” The New York Times reports. “But forcing asylum applicants to remain in possibly dangerous conditions in Mexico represents a major break from longstanding practice that permitted most migrants who requested asylum to live in the United States while they awaited the outcome of their cases.”

The Trump administration says the policy is necessary because asylum-seekers often disappear into the country and never show up for their legal hearings. Critics, however, say immigrants with genuine asylum claims are being forced to wait in dangerous conditions on the U.S.-Mexico border.

“Being forced to remain in Mexico while their asylum cases are being prepared also limits the migrants’ access to legal counsel because they cannot reach the help that is available on the American side of the border, immigration lawyers said,” The New York Times reports.

Still, President Trump celebrated his administration’s legal victory on Twitter on Tuesday night. “Big Court win at our Southern Border! We are getting there – and Wall is being built!” Trump tweeted.