US Court Rules against Trump’s «Remain in Mexico» Policy, Leaves Door Open to Appeal

By Staff, Agencies

The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco blocked a key asylum policy of the Donald Trump administration which saw many applicants waiting in Mexico for their pleas to be processed in the United States.

The ruling against the policy known as "Remain in Mexico" came with a stay order designed to give the authorities an opening to appeal the decision.

It also means that the policy, which the court has found to run against US laws and UN refugee protocols "in its entirety," can effectively stay in place.

With a response to the stay expected by Monday, it is currently unclear when the ruling can be expected to be implemented.

The White House blasted the ruling, warning it could "flood the nation's immigration system" and "present unchecked coronavirus entry risk."

The San Francisco court had originally allowed the policy to go ahead last year, pending the appeal, overruling a district judge who had ruled against the measure.

The district judge had heard evidence that migrants returned to Mexico under the policy faced discrimination, physical violence, sexual assault, corruption and lack of food and shelter.

Over 60,000 people have been returned to Mexico under the program since it was introduced in January 2019, according to the White House.