9th Circuit allows Biden asylum policy to proceed for now

A Biden administration policy restricting asylum-seekers at the southern border can proceed for now, a federal appeals court ruled on Thursday, pausing an order from a lower court to block the policy.

In an unexpected win for the Biden administration, a panel of three judges from the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals voted 2-1 to put a temporary stay on a court ruling from last month that was slated to stop the asylum restrictions next week. The asylum policy — which has contributed to a dramatic dip in border crossings — has been described by some as an “asylum ban,” preventing some migrants from applying for humanitarian protection if they enter the country illegally.