Judges say Trump’s order for swift removal at the border ‘cast aside federal laws affording’ right to seek asylum.By The Associated PressPublished On 24 Apr 202624 Apr 2026An appeals court has ruled that President Donald Trump’s ban on asylum applications in the United States is unlawful, dealing a setback to the administration’s immigration crackdown.In a decision released on Friday, a three-judge panel from the US Court of Appeals in Washington, DC, found that existing laws — namely the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) — give people the right to apply for asylum at the border.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemsend of listTrump had issued the asylum ban in a proclamation on January 20, 2025, on the first day of his second term.But the appeals court questioned whether suspending asylum unilaterally was within the president’s power.“Congress did not intend to grant the Executive the expansive removal authority it asserts,” the ruling said.“The Proclamation and Guidance are thus unlawful to the extent that they circumvent the INA’s removal procedures and cast aside federal laws affording individuals the right to apply and be considered for asylum or withholding of removal protections.”The decision validated a ruling by a lower court. While the judges blocked Trump’s order, it is unclear what its immediate impact will be. Already, the White House has signalled it plans to appeal.Trump made immigration a major pillar of his 2024 re-election campaign, pledging to repel what he describes as an “invasion” of migrants by shutting down the southern border of the US.Asylum in the US can be granted to people facing “persecution based on race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or membership in a particular social group”. Such protections have been recognised as a fundamental human right under international law. Advertisement But unauthorised border crossings reached record levels during the administration of Preside …
