Washington, D.C. — Today, the Supreme Court ruled that the Biden administration can end the “Remain in Mexico” policy that required asylum-seekers to stay in Mexico while they await a hearing in a U.S. immigration court. In response, Patrick Gaspard, president and CEO of the Center for American Progress, issued the following statement:
In a week where a horrific tragedy resulted in the death of more than 50 migrants in a tractor trailer near San Antonio, this ruling allows the Biden administration to end an inhumane policy that left many asylum-seekers vulnerable to kidnapping, rape, and extortion by gangs and others who prey on migrants in Mexico. Restrictive policies like these force migrants to undertake dangerous journeys putting their lives at risk.
The ruling recognizes that the president has broad discretion to set immigration priorities and conduct foreign policy without undue interference from the courts. The court should never have forced the Biden administration to reinstate this shameful policy while the justices considered legal challenges. The United States has long been a beacon for those fleeing persecution and violence in other countries. They should not be needlessly subjected to even more danger and violence while awaiting a hearing.
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