'We've seen enough': Biden admin battles Internet's ire as it faces its first lawsuit on border crackdown
WASHINGTON DC: The first lawsuit against President Joe Biden's latest executive order on immigration was lodged in a federal court on Wednesday, June 12, amid pressure from Democratic legislators for the administration to ease asylum limitations.
The American Civil Liberties Union, representing two pro-immigration organizations, alleges that the Biden administration did not give "advance notice" prior to enacting "unlawful alterations" to US immigration statutes.
ACLU decries 'violation' of federal law
“We were left with no alternative but to sue,” Lee Gelernt, the deputy director of the ACLU's Immigrants' Rights Project, made a statement.
“The administration lacks unilateral authority to override Congress and bar asylum based on how one enters the country, a point the courts made crystal clear when the Trump administration unsuccessfully tried a near-identical ban,” he further added.
The complaint claims that by implementing an "Interim Final Rule without first providing notice and an opportunity to comment," the Biden administration "harmed" immigrant advocacy groups and "violated" federal law, as per New York Post.
The order, issued last week, bars individuals from seeking asylum if the average daily encounters with migrants between ports of entry reach 2,500 over a week.
The restrictions may be lifted if the average crossings drop to 1,500 per day for a consecutive seven days.
Biden admin under fire for short-notice proclamation
The proclamation became effective immediately, as the number of migrant encounters was approximately 4,000 per day at the time of signing by the president.
The lawsuit filed does not request an emergency injunction from the US District Court in Washington, DC, to halt Biden's order.
“The Biden administration’s actions effectively shut the door on countless individuals fleeing violence and persecution,” Arthur Spitzer, Senior Counsel for the ACLU of the District of Columbia, said in a statement that emphasized the new policy is in violation of asylum rights.
“Anti-asylum policies are cruel, ineffective, and unlawfully undermine the fundamental right to seek asylum in the United States,” he remarked.
Twelve House Democrats are suing the Biden administration
The legal action was initiated just a day after the appeal by a collective of over twelve House Democrats for the Biden administration to reevaluate the newly implemented regulations.
“Allowing the consideration of mandatory bars to asylum during initial asylum screening interviews will force asylum seekers to present legally and factually complex arguments explaining the life-threatening harms they are fleeing shortly after enduring a long, traumatic journey and while being held in immigration detention and essentially cut off from legal help,” the group of 18 lawmakers, headed by Representatives Delia Ramirez (D-Ill) and Jesús “Chuy” Garcia (D-Ill), penned in a letter on Tuesday, addressed to Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and United States Citizenship and Immigration Services Director Ur Jaddou.
“The Biden Administration just two years ago concluded that the inclusion of mandatory bars in credible fear screenings would make the screenings less efficient, undermining Congress’s intent that the expedited removal process be swift, and would undermine procedural fairness, leading to substantial due process concerns," the missive that The Hill obtained added.
Critics point out that even with Biden's order fully enforced, the "crackdown" would still permit entry to 1.8 million asylum seekers due to various exemptions.
Internet says Biden admin is 'hell-bent' on destroying US
Responding to the development, a social media user said, "Had Congress done their job and actually changed immigration laws this wouldn’t have happened. But the GOP cares more about their leader DT than the American people who actually pays them."
Had Congress done their job and actually changed immigration laws this wouldn’t have happened. But the GOP cares more about their leader DT than the American people who actually pays them.
— Speaker Brandon (@democratichold) June 13, 2024
Another added, "Outlaw Joe Biden!"
A third commented, "We have seen enough of Biden’s immigration policy’s and they have disroyed every Ci."
We have seen enough of Biden’s immigration policy’s and they have disroyed every Ci
— “C” Richardson (@CRichar77974567) June 13, 2024
"Biden and friends are hell bent on destroying this country. AMERICA FIRST TRUMP2024," a person argued.
Biden and friends are hell bent on destroying this country.
— Hindsight Is 2020 (@HindsightI98220) June 13, 2024
AMERICA FIRST 🇺🇸 TRUMP2024
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