The U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday handed down two major immigration rulings that significantly expand executive authority over asylum and deportation protections, delivering a major victory for the Trump administration.
In a 6–3 decision, the Court ruled that migrants waiting on the Mexican side of the U.S.-Mexico border are not entitled to seek asylum until they physically enter the United States. The ruling allows federal officials to resume a border “metering” policy that limits asylum processing and permits the turnback of migrants at ports of entry when facilities are deemed full. Justice Samuel Alito wrote for the majority, while Justice Sonia Sotomayor warned in dissent that the decision could place vulnerable migrants in danger.
In a separate 6–3 ruling, the Court upheld the administration’s authority to terminate Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for approximately 350,000 Haitians and 6,100 Syrians. The majority concluded that TPS termination decisions are largely shielded from judicial review, clearing the way for affected individuals to lose deportation protections and work authorization.
Immigrant-rights advocates condemned the decisions, arguing they weaken longstanding humanitarian protections, while administration officials praised the rulings as restoring control over immigration policy.
