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A6 U.S. NEWS
Wednesday 20 november 2019
Ruling backs asylum seekers at border prior to policy shift

By ELLIOT SPAGAT
Associated Press
SAN DIEGO (AP) — A fed-
eral judge ruled Tuesday
that a partial ban on asy-
lum does not apply to any-
one who appeared at an
official U.S. border crossing
before the policy was an-
nounced in July, a decision
that may affect thousands
of people.
The Trump administration
announced July 16 that it
would deny asylum to any-
one who traveled through
another country without
applying there first.
Immigrants advocates
went to court on behalf
of the many migrants who
heeded the recommenda-
tions of the U.S. government
and showed up at official
crossings earlier this year to
request asylum, rather than
cross the border illegally.
The advocates said the ad-
ministration engaged in an In this Thursday, Sept. 26, 2019 file photo asylum seekers in Tijuana, Mexico, listen to names being called from a waiting list to claim
"immoral bait-and-switch" asylum at a border crossing in San Diego.
against those immigrants Associated Press
by imposing the ban. co before July 16 would be ingness to wait in Mexico," considered, at best, mis- The lack of U.S. control or
U.S. District Judge Cynthia exempt from the ban. Bashant wrote. "In reliance leading, and at worst, du- centralized management
Bashant ruled in their favor "(These) asylum seekers un- on this representation by plicitous — now seeks to of the lists makes it difficult
Tuesday, saying anyone derstood their access to the U.S. Government, they change course." to know how many asylum
who appeared at a U.S. asylum in the United States did so. The Government Faced with a surge in asy- seekers got in line before
border crossing with Mexi- to be premised on their will- — in a shift that can be lum-seeking families last July 16 and were admitted
year, the U.S. said there after the ban took effect in
wasn't enough processing September.
capacity at official cross- Attorneys for the plaintiffs
ings and began telling estimate it is in the thou-
people to wait in Mexico to sands.
claim asylum. The practice, Neither the Justice nor
known as "metering," has Homeland Security De-
left many waiting months. partments immediately
The number of names on responded to requests for
waiting lists in 11 Mexi- comment.
can border cities totaled Groups representing asy-
nearly 21,400 this month, lum seekers applauded the
according to a survey by ruling.
the Strauss Center for Inter- "These asylum seekers have
national Security and Law a deep commitment to fol-
at the University of Texas, lowing our laws in seeking
Austin and the Center for protection, and we are re-
U.S.-Mexico Studies at the lieved to see that their de-
University of California, San cision to follow our govern-
Diego. ment's instructions to wait
In Tijuana, the waiting list in Mexico will not prejudice
hovers below 9,000 names. their chances for relief,"
People whose names were said Erika Pinheiro, director
getting called last week of litigation and policy at Al
said they had been waiting Otro Lado, which was rep-
in Mexico for five months. resented by the Southern
The U.S. does not manage Poverty Law Center, Cen-
the waiting lists, spawning ter for Constitutional Rights,
haphazard systems that and American Immigration
vary by city. Over time, Council.
they have been overseen The partial asylum ban was
by Mexican federal, state on hold until the U.S. Su-
and local officials, Mexican preme Court decided Sept.
migrant shelters and immi- 11 that it could take effect
grants themselves. during a legal challenge.q