The U.S. Supreme Court appeared in favor of the Trump administration's policy to prevent immigrants making asylum claims from being processed if they are on the Mexico side of the U.S.-Mexico border.
The court heard arguments in Noem v. Al Otro Lado, a case challenging whether a former Trump administration “metering” policy – that prevented immigrants on the Mexico side of the U.S.-Mexico border from claiming asylum protections – is against U.S. immigration law.
The 1990 Immigration and Nationality Act allows an individual who “arrives in the United States” to apply for asylum status and be inspected by an immigration officer.
Several of the justices questioned at what point it can be determined that an immigrant “arrives in the United States.” Justice Amy Coney Barrett specifically drilled into what the definition of arrival means.
