ACLU, legal aid groups sue Trump administration over asylum ban

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and several immigration advocacy groups have filed a federal lawsuit against the Trump administration in response to a recent proclamation declaring an 'invasion' at the southern border, which aims to prevent migrants from claiming asylum. The lawsuit, lodged in U.S. District Court, argues that this proclamation unlawfully circumvents asylum protections guaranteed by Congress, putting vulnerable individuals and families at risk of persecution. ACLU representatives described the action as an unprecedented overreach of presidential power that violates the rights of those fleeing danger. The proclamation leverages Section 212(f) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, which allows the president to suspend entry under specific circumstances, but the suit contends this authority does not extend to overriding established asylum laws. The groups involved in the lawsuit emphasize the potential human rights violations, particularly concerning unaccompanied children who lack the necessary protections under the proclamation. The Department of Homeland Security has refrained from commenting on the pending litigation.