In McALLEN, Texas, immigration advocates have initiated a class-action lawsuit challenging the Trump administration’s proclamation that effectively halted the ability to seek asylum at ports of entry to the United States. Filed by the Center for Gender & Refugee Studies, the American Immigration Council, Democracy Forward, and the Center for Constitutional Rights in a Southern California federal court, the lawsuit aims to declare the proclamation unlawful, overturn the policy ending asylum at ports of entry, and reinstate access to the asylum process for individuals, including those whose appointments were canceled under President Trump’s tenure.

This lawsuit, distinct from a previous case in Washington, D.C., focuses on individuals not yet on U.S. soil seeking asylum at ports of entry. Trump’s proclamation, issued on his first day in office, marked a significant policy change by terminating asylum at the border, citing inefficiencies in the screening process under the Immigration and Nationality Act. Critics argue that the requirements imposed on asylum seekers at ports of entry, such as providing medical and criminal histories, are overly burdensome for individuals fleeing immediate danger.

Furthermore, the lawsuit highlights the impact of the proclamation on thousands of asylum seekers who had their appointments canceled via the CBP One app on Trump’s inauguration day. The Center for Gender & Refugee Studies condemned the Trump administration’s actions as obstructing the asylum process and violating U.S. law. The legal battle underscores the ongoing debate surrounding immigration policies and access to asylum in the United States.