Federal Judge Strikes Down Rule Affecting Illegal Immigrants Seeking Asylum

The rule violates federal law, the judge said. He also acknowledged that his ruling was unlikely to have much impact given how border encounters have fallen.

President Joe Biden delivers remarks about immigration and border security at the Brownsville Station in Olmito, Texas, on Feb. 29, 2024. Cheney Orr/Getty Images

An immigration rule affecting illegal immigrants, which was finalized at the direction of former President Joe Biden, violates federal law, U.S. District Judge Rudolph Contreras ruled on May 9.

The rule had several parts. It forced illegal immigrants seeking asylum, or protection against deportation because of fear of danger if they were sent to their home country, to schedule a time to appear at a port of entry to request asylum. If they didn’t, they would not be eligible for asylum, with limited exceptions.