Trump declared that the situation at the southern border constitutes an invasion of the US in the order signed earlier this year
A federal judge has blocked President Donald Trump’s controversial executive order banning migrants from seeking asylum at the southern U.S. border, dealing a significant setback to his hardline immigration agenda.
The ruling, handed down Wednesday by U.S. District Judge Randolph Moss in Washington, declared Trump’s January order unlawful. The administration has been given two weeks to file an appeal.
Trump’s directive had labeled the influx of migrants at the southern border an “invasion” and suspended both the physical entry of individuals and their ability to apply for asylum. Judge Moss ruled that neither the Constitution nor immigration law allows the president to create “an extra-statutory, extra-regulatory regime” that removes migrants without due process or asylum consideration.
“The president cannot override laws enacted by Congress simply by declaring that asylum seekers are invading the country,” Moss wrote.
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), which filed the lawsuit along with several advocacy groups, praised the ruling as a win for human rights.
“This decision reaffirms that those fleeing danger have a legal right to seek protection,” the ACLU said in a statement.
Trump Blasts “Radical Left Judges” Despite Record-Low Border Arrests
Reacting to the ruling, Trump touted record-low border crossing numbers and sharply criticized the judiciary.
“CONGRATULATIONS AMERICA! The June Border Statistics are in and they are the LOWEST EVER RECORDED in UNITED STATES HISTORY,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “We still have Radical Left Judges trying to open the Border and defy the Supreme Court. Republicans must stay strong and stop these crazed judges from turning our nation into a Third World Country.”
According to White House data, Border Patrol made 6,070 arrests in June, a 30 percent decrease from May. On June 28 alone, agents reported just 137 apprehensions—a dramatic drop from late 2023, when daily arrests frequently exceeded 10,000.
Controversial Immigration Measures Continue
The decision comes as Trump doubles down on immigration enforcement. He recently opened a new detention facility in Florida, dubbed “Alligator Alcatraz,” and continues to warn of what he describes as a “military-style invasion” at the border.
Despite the court’s ruling, Trump and his allies have vowed to continue pushing for stricter immigration controls, while civil rights groups prepare for a potential legal showdown at the appellate level.
