Supreme Court Allows Trump to Restrict Immigration Once Again

On Thursday, June 25th, the Supreme Court issued two pivotal legal decisions that allow Trump to significantly restrict immigration into the United States. The administration can not only turn migrants away at the border, but also expel some from the country. Officials say this is to protect American communities and create a safer environment.

The first law passed allows the Trump Administration to end TPS (Temporary Protected Status). Trump has been rallying to end this program in an effort to restrict immigration further. For example, in the past, Trump has significantly increased ICE funds by giving them $75 billion dollars to be spent over four years. TPS was first created to protect those with unsafe homes due to wars, natural disasters, and other temporary crises.

According to the American Immigration Council (AIC), “Roughly 1.3 million people were present lawfully in the United States on TPS, including 350,000 Haitians, the majority of whom entered legally… following the assassination of Haitian President Jovenel Moïse in July 2021”. Most Haitian immigrants are living in the United States due to the ongoing political upheavel of their country. If Trump takes away TPS for all Haitians, then how would we know which individuals are truly in need the support of TPS?

Congress has a procedure stating that TPS can only be terminated for a country if a review finds that conditions in said country have improved. Documents revealed that the Trump administration failed to follow these procedures and ignored ongoing dangers in Haiti. Despite this, the court ruled 6-3 preventing the court from hearing any lawsuits that challenge the Department of Homeland Security (DHS)’s negligence in following the proper procedures.

Additionally, in another case, the court ruled that the Trump administration could physically turn away asylum seekers along the U.S-Mexico border. According to the New York Times, “The administration had asked the court to permit the government to revive the policy, first used in 2016. Under that so-called turn-back policy, the government had stopped asylum seekers from setting foot on U.S. soil.“

Ahilan Arulanantham, an American Human Rights leader and civil liberties lawyer, was interviewed by the New York Times, stated that the government is now allowed to, “ignore a bedrock humanitarian protection that Congress, in bipartisan fashion, established three decades ago to ensure that vulnerable refugees would not be subject to partisan whims.” Moreover, he said, millions of people “are at risk of being sent back to countries in crisis.”

On the contrary, the White House is claiming the decisions made are for the greater good and safety in American communities, even calling some migrants “illegal aliens.” According to the White House, “By prioritizing enforcement and accountability, the administration is restoring integrity to the immigration system and ensuring the law is applied consistently. These efforts protect American workers, reduce strain on local communities, and reinforce the nation’s right to control its borders and determine who enters the United States.”

James Percival, a member of the DHS, agrees and mentions how the “T in TPS stands for TEMPORARY.” He subtly notes how migrants abuse the generosity of the U.S. and how many of the cases become “de facto amnesty.” He even notes how it is “common sense” that TPS is being abused and that banning it is a good thing.

Note: It says my essay must be between 100-600 words to submit? Is this an error or should I shorten my essay? I copied my last 2 paragraphs into a document to be saved.