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US judge blocks Trump administration’s sweeping asylum rules

Donald Trump
Posted at 2:47 AM, Jan 09, 2021
and last updated 2021-01-09 02:47:51-05

BY SUMAN NAISHADHAM, AP — A U.S. judge has blocked the Trump administration’s most sweeping set of asylum restrictions less than two weeks before President-elect Joe Biden takes office.

The rules had been set to take effect Monday.

Friday's ruling has limited immediate impact because the government has largely suspended asylum at the U.S.-Mexico border during the coronavirus pandemic.

Still, letting the rules take effect would have been felt by some who can still claim asylum and make it significantly more difficult for all asylum-seekers once pandemic-related measures are lifted.

The Trump administration argued the measures were an appropriate response to a system rife with abuse.

But the judge says the acting Homeland Security secretary lacks authority to impose the sweeping rules.