Supreme Court Blocks Asylum Access for Certain Border Migrants

The Supreme Court of the United States ruled in Mullin v. Al Otro Lado to block migrants stopped at the international boundary from applying for asylum. In the majority opinion, Justice Samuel Alito asserted that border officers are permitted to use expedited removal for nearly any individual deemed inadmissible due to criminal activity, health, foreign policy, or national security concerns.

Legal critics argue this interpretation is an error, claiming federal immigration law restricts expedited removal to individuals who lack valid visas and passports or those who misrepresent facts. These critics contend the ruling incorrectly minimizes the authority of neutral immigration judges and grants border officials excessive power to summarize eject individuals.

Under the new ruling, officials can impose five-year reentry bars on these individuals without providing an opportunity for a legal appeal or a formal hearing.