The Trump administration was sued over the president’s proclamation on protecting states from invasion.
A federal judge issued an order on Feb. 20 temporarily preventing the Trump administration from removing a group of anonymous prospective asylum seekers while litigation continues in a lawsuit they joined against the president.
The brief administrative stay, issued by U.S. District Judge Randolph Moss in Washington, is set to remain in effect until noon on Feb. 24.
The initial lawsuit was filed on Feb. 3 in response to Trump’s proclamation titled “Guaranteeing the States Protection Against Invasion.” It alleged that under the proclamation, the administration was defying Congress by returning asylum seekers to countries where they faced persecution or torture.
In a motion on Feb. 19, the plaintiffs described the individuals with initials such as “A.M.” and “B.R.,” stating their names had been filed under seal.
“These Individual Plaintiffs are noncitizens who fled persecution and torture in their countries of origin and seek asylum and other protection in the United States,” the motion states.
It says that “plaintiffs’ counsel conferred with Defendants’ counsel, who indicated that Defendants oppose the relief requested in this motion and do not agree to keep these Individual Plaintiffs in the United States pending the outcome of this lawsuit.”
By Sam Dorman
