U.S. District Judge Randolph Moss has granted an “administrative stay” halting the deportation of eight asylum seekers who face violent threats in their home countries.
The group includes a family fleeing the Taliban, a man who claims to have been jailed and tortured in Egypt due to his political views, and a woman from Ecuador who fears being killed by her police officer husband, according to Politico.
Attorneys for the asylum seekers argue that the Trump administration is violating the law by denying those with credible fear of persecution the opportunity to seek legal status.
The judge, an Obama appointee, has requested more information on the cases, and the Justice Department has until Friday at midnight to provide further details.
In their legal complaint, the asylum seekers’ attorneys challenge President Donald Trump’s January 20 proclamation titled “Guaranteeing the States Protection Against Invasion,” calling it both unlawful and unprecedented.
The declaration cites health, public safety, and national security concerns as justification, claiming the influx of migrants illegally entering the U.S. is creating unmanageable risks.
It emphasizes the authorities’ inability to verify the criminal background and national security risks of individuals crossing the southern border.
The Department of Homeland Security has not yet responded to a Fox News request for comment.
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