(NewsNation) — President Trump administration officials are defending the president’s move to end asylum claims at the southern border through an executive order.
Trump officials stated their case to a panel Tuesday of the D.C. Court of Appeals judges after the American Civil Liberties Union, National Immigrant Justice Center, Center for Gender & Refugee Studies, Texas Civil Rights Project, ACLU of the District of Columbia and ACLU of Texas sought a permanent injunction preventing the administration from blocking asylum claims.
A separate appeals panel decided to lift a lower court’s order, allowing the administration to block asylum seekers while the merits of the case were argued.
During the discussion, administration officials referenced the 212(f) proclamation — an order allowing the president authority to suspend entry of migrants under certain circumstances. They also claimed that due to an “invasion” at the southern border, asylum protections could be denied.
Department of Justice attorneys on behalf of the Trump administration contended Trump has the power in deciding who is admissible into the country, regardless of whether it’s an asylum claim.
The president can “take the steps necessary to make an entry bar effective, including defining consequences for violating it,” said DOJ attorney Drew Ensign.
Encounters with migrants at the southern border is at the lowest point in years.
Since taking office in January, Trumo has focused on immigration in the country with mass deportations and reducing migration to the United States through curbing access to asylum and refugee resettlement.