A federal judge in California blocked the Trump’s administration policy that requires asylum- seekers to return to Mexico while they wait for the court appearance.
The ruling came one day after the Secretary of Homeland Security resignation, Kirstjen Nielsen, who only a few weeks ago had announced plans to expand the program.
Judge Richard Seeborg issued a preliminary order on Monday that will be on hold until next Friday, after which, the US Administration will not be able to implement or expand the program of sending asylum seekers to Mexico.
The decision allows the 11 plaintiffs to be allowed to re-enter US territory.
Judy Rabinovitz , an attorney for the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), declared to the press after hearing the ruling and said that the court decision “means that nobody else can be sent to Mexico. (The Government) cannot ignore our laws”.
The ACLU represented the complainants in the lawsuit along with the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) and the Center for Gender and Refugee Studies, which accused the government of treating immigrants in a “cruel” and “illegal” way.
Attorney Melissa Crow of the SPLC pointed out that the ruling “will prevent incredibly vulnerable individuals from being trapped in dangerous conditions in Mexico.”
The policy of sending asylum seekers to Mexico while waiting for the resolution of their cases began in January and since then, some 400 people have been sent to that country, according to the US Department of Homeland Security, which is responsible for its implementation.
The Courts of California, more progressive than most courts from the rest of the country, has become a favorite for activists for filing lawsuits against Trump´s government, especially on immigration, where the Administration has already suffered several setbacks.
Translated by José Espinoza
Noticias Newswire
