National

Trump Suffers Court Setback in Ongoing Border Asylum Battle

By Dan Gooding Newsweek
US-MEXICO-BORDER-MIGRATION-TRUMP. The US-Mexico border wall is seen on the outskirts of Eagle Pass, Texas, on February 19, 2026.
US-MEXICO-BORDER-MIGRATION-TRUMP. The US-Mexico border wall is seen on the outskirts of Eagle Pass, Texas, on February 19, 2026. RONALDO SCHEMIDT RONALDO SCHEMIDT / AFP via Getty Images

President Donald Trump‘s ban on asylum at the U.S. border was ruled illegal Friday, with a three-judge panel saying his executive order couldn’t circumvent existing immigration laws.

Trump signed the order in January 2025, effectively closing the pathway to asylum, particularly along the U.S.-Mexico border where hundreds of thousands of immigrants had arrived over the previous four years.

Friday’s decision means the president’s order was deemed unenforceable because existing immigration laws say all those who enter the U.S., including those who enter illegally, have the right to seek asylum and have their case heard.

While Trump’s policy tightened restrictions even further, the final months of the Biden administration had also seen a near-total ban on asylum at the border because of the high numbers of illegal crossings. That policy also saw legal challenges.

Newsweek reached out to the White House and the Department of Homeland Security via email Friday afternoon for comment.

This is a breaking news story. Updates to follow.

The U.S.-Mexico border wall on the outskirts of Eagle Pass, Texas, on February 19, 2026.
The U.S.-Mexico border wall on the outskirts of Eagle Pass, Texas, on February 19, 2026. RONALDO SCHEMIDT AFP via Getty Images

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This story was originally published April 24, 2026 at 10:33 AM.

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