The Supreme Court ruled Wednesday afternoon that the Trump Administration’s “Return to Mexico,” also known as the Migrants Protection Protocol, can be enforced, in a direct rebuke to a federal injunction in opposition to the policy. The injunction would have halted the program in California and Arizona.
#SCOTUS grants govt's request, allows Trump administration to temporarily enforce "remain in Mexico" policy while it seeks Supreme Court review. Justice Sonia Sotomayor indicates she would have denied govt's request. Order is here: https://t.co/HvEYY8iS9v
— Amy Howe (@AHoweBlogger) March 11, 2020
The Administration's landmark policy, which has 60,000 people enrolled, forces asylum seekers to remain in Mexico while their cases are reviewed. MPP aims to deter illegal immigration.
The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals originally struck the policy:
BREAKING: #SCOTUS blocks 9th Cir. order halting Trump's return-to-Mexico asylum policy pending further litigation at high court. 9th Cir found policy illegal and would've blocked it in CA/AZ effective tomorrow. Sotomayor is only recorded dissenter. Order: https://t.co/Dab2uRb4hD
— Josh Gerstein (@joshgerstein) March 11, 2020
NEW: Supreme Court allows Trump administration to continue enforcing in full its "remain in Mexico" asylum plan
— Lawrence Hurley (@lawrencehurley) March 11, 2020
SCOTUS will allow Trump's "remain in Mexico" policy to continue across the border, staying a circuit court ruling finding the policy violated immigration law. Note the Trump administration actually sent military units to several border crossings in case SCOTUS went the other way
— Michelle Hackman (@MHackman) March 11, 2020
The high court’s ruling is not a stance on the constitutionality of the Trump Administration’s migrant program, but rather a chance for MPP to go through the judicial process.