Federal judge blocks Trump asylum ban affecting 450,000 migrants

On Jul. 2, 2025, U.S. District Judge Randolph Moss ruled that President Trump’s Jan. 20 “invasion” proclamation barring all migrants at the southern border from seeking asylum exceeded his authority under the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA).

Judge Moss stayed his injunction for 14 days—until Jul. 16—to give the Department of Justice time to file an appeal.

The nationwide class action covered about 15,000 migrants who had been denied asylum under the proclamation.

The ruling restores migrants’ rights to seek both asylum and withholding of removal under U.S. law.

The court held that only the INA—and not a presidential proclamation—establishes the sole and exclusive procedures for removal and asylum.

President Trump labeled the border situation an “invasion,” although U.S. Customs and Border Protection data showed a 45% decline in apprehensions in the five months before the ban.