The Government Shutdown Wont Affect Trump Asylum Challenge
Jason Hopkins | Energy Investigator
A federal judge has ruled against the Justice Department, denying its request to pause all deadlines relating to a District of Columbia court case that is challenging the Trump administrations asylum restrictions.
President Donald Trump signed a proclamation in November that barred migrants who entered the country illegally from claiming asylum. However, the court system has not been receptive to the new asylum rule. A judge on the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled against the restrictions later that month, and a 5-4 Supreme Court decision in December also rejected the Trump administrations bid to enforce it.
The losing streak continued in a ruling by U.S. District Judge Randolph Moss.
Attorneys with Justice Department on Wednesday asked the court to put all case deadlines on hold as the government continues to be under a shutdown. However, Moss on Thursday denied the request, writing that filings must remain in place because the challengers to the asylum restrictions view the case as related to human safety.
Moss noted in his order that there are plenty of employees still working in the immigration courts and within the Department of Homeland Security, despite the shutdown.
“The Court further notes that, according to government reports, 48% of employees from the Executive Office for Immigration Review are excepted to process all immigration cases and appeals involving detained aliens, … and approximately 91% of Customs and Border Protection employees and 81% of Immigration and Customs Enforcement employees will be retained during a lapse in appropriations,” Moss wrote, quoting the administrations shutdown staffing plans. (RELATED: Immigration Groups To Challenge Trumps Remain In Mexico Policy)
The lawsuit is brought on from six individuals who were barred from claiming asylum because they entered the country illegally.
A U.S. Border Patrol agent keeps watch at the Hugs Not Walls event on the U.S.-Mexico border on Oct. 13, 2018 in Sunland Park, New Mexico. Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)
The issue of immigration is also behind the government shutdown, with Trump and congressional Democrats at odds over funding for a border wall. The president has made clear he is willing to ride a shutdown for as long as it takes until he receives a budget that allots enough funding for construction of a wall on the countrys southern border.
The next briefs will be due to the court by Jan. 4, 2019.
Follow Jason on Twitter.
Content created by The Daily Caller News Foundation is available without charge to any eligible news publisher that can provide a large audience. For licensing opportunities of our original content, please contact [email protected].
[contf]
[contfnew]
The daily caller
[contfnewc]
[contfnewc]
