RAICES and co-counsel are challenging a January 2025 Trump administration proclamation that closes the U.S. asylum system at the southern border, with the U.S. Supreme Court expected to decide the legality of the measure by June 2027.
The proclamation, issued during the opening weeks of Donald Trump’s second term, labels the arrival of asylum seekers an “invasion” that runs contrary to national interests. According to immigrantjustice.org, the measure uses that characterization to bypass protections established by Congress and decades of legal precedent. It bars anyone crossing the southern border from applying for asylum or withholding of removal.
A federal district judge in Washington, D.C., ruled that the administration’s modifications to the proclamation are illegal and vacated them, immigrantjustice.org reported. The administration appealed that decision to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit and requested a stay of the district court’s order.
The D.C. Circuit initially permitted the proclamation to block only asylum claims while leaving other forms of protection intact. In April 2026, however, the appeals court affirmed the district court ruling, determining that all alterations made by the proclamation are illegal.
The proclamation also targets protections for victims of torture. Under the measure, individuals must explicitly state a fear of torture and prove the probability of such acts during a preliminary interview without legal assistance or documentary evidence.
The legal challenge is led by the National Immigrant Justice Center, the American Civil Liberties Union, the Texas Civil Rights Project, the Center for Gender & Refugee Studies, the ACLU of the District of Columbia, and the ACLU of Texas. Supporting non-profit organizations providing legal services include the Las Americas Immigrant Advocacy Center, the Refugee and Immigrant Center for Education and Legal Services (RAICES), and the Florence Immigrant & Refugee Rights Project.
Following the D.C. Circuit ruling in April 2026, the government petitioned the Supreme Court of the United States to review the case. The high court agreed to hear the dispute, setting the stage for a final ruling.
“Nous prévoyons une décision d’ici juin 2027,” immigrantjustice.org stated regarding the anticipated timeline for the Supreme Court’s verdict.
| Court Stage | Action Date | Ruling / Status |
|---|---|---|
| District Court | Early 2025 | Blocked proclamation modifications as illegal |
| D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals | April 2026 | Confirmed district court ruling, striking down all modifications |
| U.S. Supreme Court | June 2027 (Expected) | Review pending following government appeal |
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