The Kabul Tribune (KT) — The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that the Trump administration can block asylum seekers from entering the United States at the U.S.-Mexico border, allowing the government to reinstate its "turn-back" or "metering" policy, media reports said.
In a 6-3 decision, the court ruled that federal authorities
may stop migrants from physically entering U.S. territory before they can apply
for asylum, a move that significantly reshapes the country's asylum system.
The case centered on the interpretation of U.S. immigration
law, which grants individuals arriving in the United States the right to seek
asylum. The justices were asked to determine when a migrant is considered to
have "arrived in" the country.
Writing for the majority, Justice Samuel Alito said that, in
ordinary language, a person cannot be considered to have arrived in a place
before physically entering it.
Justice Sonia Sotomayor strongly disagreed in a dissenting
opinion, arguing that the court's interpretation ignored the broader context
and purpose of U.S. asylum law.
Human rights organizations criticized the ruling, saying it
effectively allows the Trump administration to deny asylum seekers access to
legal protections guaranteed under U.S. and international law. Advocates argue
that officials are required to inspect individuals who present themselves at
ports of entry and ensure they are not returned to countries where they may
face persecution or other dangers.
The decision marks another legal victory for President
Donald Trump's immigration agenda, which has focused on tightening border
controls and expanding deportations.
The ruling was supported by Chief Justice John Roberts and
Justices Clarence Thomas, Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett.
Justices Elena Kagan, Ketanji Brown Jackson and Sonia Sotomayor dissented.
The decision is expected to have far-reaching implications
for asylum policy and border enforcement in the United States.
