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The 6-3 decision allows the reinstatement of the policy of rejecting asylum seekers at the border and paves the way for the end of temporary protected status for citizens from Haiti and Syria.
The United States Supreme Court handed President Donald Trump a major victory on immigration policy on Thursday, allowing the reinstatement of a policy that limits the admission of asylum seekers at border crossings with Mexico and paving the way for the end of temporary protection from deportation for thousands of immigrants.
In a 6-3 decision, the Court's conservative majority ruled that a person is not considered to have "arrived in the United States" until they physically cross the border. This means that border authorities can reject asylum seekers who are still in Mexican territory without giving them the opportunity to file an asylum claim.
The decision reinstates the so-called "metering" policy, which limits the number of asylum seekers processed at border crossings. The practice began during the Barack Obama administration due to limited capacity, but was expanded and formalized during Trump's first term. It was later rescinded by the Biden administration following federal court rulings.
In the majority opinion, Justice Samuel Alito wrote that "an alien arrives in the United States only when he crosses the border," arguing that attempting to enter U.S. territory is not enough to earn the right to seek asylum.
On the same day, the Supreme Court also allowed the Trump administration to end Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for citizens from Haiti and Syria. The decision could affect an estimated 350,000 Haitians and 6,000 Syrians, who risk losing their work permits and protection from deportation if they do not qualify for another legal status.
The Trump administration has taken steps to end TPS status for more than a dozen countries, as part of a strategy to limit immigration, both illegal and legal.
The three liberal justices voted against the decision. Justice Sonia Sotomayor read her dissent publicly from the courtroom, warning that the humanitarian consequences would be severe.
"The consequences of today's decision are predictable. More people will die," she wrote.
Sotomayor compared the decision to the historic case of the MS St. Louis, which in 1939 was carrying nearly 1,000 Jews fleeing Nazi Europe but was turned away by the United States. Many of the passengers later died in the Holocaust. According to her, the majority's interpretation could allow US authorities to not even consider asylum claims from people at border crossings.
Lawyers representing a group of Haitian citizens also criticized the decision, warning that it could lead to fatal consequences for thousands of people.
"This decision will put at risk Haitian TPS holders who fled their country to live in safety. It is a very sad day not only for them, but for anyone who believes that immigrants are one of America's greatest strengths," they stated.
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