US Supreme Court backs Trump policy to block asylum seekers at border

The US Supreme Court issued a 6‑3 decision that asylum seekers must physically cross the US‑Mexico border before they are eligible for asylum under federal law. Justice Samuel Alito wrote for the conservative majority that a person standing in Mexico has not “arrived” in the United States, allowing border agents to deny entry and asylum applications at ports of entry. The ruling overturns a lower‑court order that had deemed the policy likely unlawful under federal statutes and international treaties. In dissent, Justice Sonia Sotomayor warned that the decision could lead to increased deaths and violations of protections for refugees.

In a related ruling, the Court also upheld the Trump administration’s effort to end temporary protected status for Haitians, potentially affecting up to 350,000 Haitians, and for Syrians, affecting over 6,000, along with dozens of other nationals. The combined decisions pave the way for broader deportations and limit legal avenues for protection seekers.