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As a federal judge stalls Trump’s asylum ban, we check in on migrant crossings at the border
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This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.

This archival content was originally written for and published on KPCC.org. Keep in mind that links and images may no longer work — and references may be outdated.

Nov 20, 2018
Listen 19:58
As a federal judge stalls Trump’s asylum ban, we check in on migrant crossings at the border
A federal judge has barred the Trump administration from refusing asylum to immigrants who cross the southern border illegally.
TOPSHOT - Central American migrants -mostly Hondurans- moving in a caravan towards the United States in hopes of a better life, walk along the metal fence on the border between Mexicali in Mexico's Baja California State, and Calexico, in California, US, on November 19, 2018. - US President Trump has sent about 5,800 troops to the border to forestall the arrival of large groups of Central American migrants travelling through Mexico and towards the US, in a move critics decry as a costly political stunt to galvanize supporters ahead of midterm elections earlier this month. (Photo by PEDRO PARDO / AFP)        (Photo credit should read PEDRO PARDO/AFP/Getty Images)
Central American migrants -mostly Hondurans- moving in a caravan towards the United States in hopes of a better life, walk along the metal fence on the border between Mexicali in Mexico's Baja California State, and Calexico, in California, US, on November 19, 2018.
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Pedro Pardo/AFP/Getty Images
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A federal judge has barred the Trump administration from refusing asylum to immigrants who cross the southern border illegally.

A federal judge has barred the Trump administration from refusing asylum to immigrants who cross the southern border illegally.

President Donald Trump issued a proclamation on Nov. 9 circumventing immigration law, saying anyone who crossed the southern border between official ports of entry would be ineligible for asylum.

But in his ruling Monday, U.S. District Judge Jon Tigar agreed with legal groups that immediately sued, arguing that U.S. immigration law clearly allows someone to seek asylum even if they enter the country between official ports of entry and temporarily barred the ruling from going into place while the case is heard.

Monday’s ruling remains in effect for one month, barring an appeal.

With files from the Associated Press

Guests:

Robbie Whelan, reporter for the Wall Street Journal based in Mexico City, who’s been reporting on the migrant caravan and illegal crossings; he tweets

Nativo Lopez, an immigrant-rights advocate and senior political advisor for Hermandad Mexicana, a Santa Ana-based non-profit organization defending immigrants’ rights in California; he tweets

Mark Krikorian, executive director of the Center for Immigration Studies, which supports tighter controls on immigration; he tweets

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