The Trump administration is already facing a legal battle over its decision to shut down a border app, known as CBP One, that allowed migrants to legally migrate to the US.
The American Civil Liberties Union filed a motion in an existing case against then-President Joe Biden’s asylum restrictions along the US southern border.
At the time, the Biden administration argued that the restrictions didn’t seal off asylum because CBP One was available to migrants to seek asylum.
But the app was turned off – and appointments cancelled – minutes after President Donald Trump was sworn in.
“As a result of the appointment process’s elimination, the right to seek asylum at the border no longer exists, no matter how great the danger faced by migrants, including families with children. Consequently, the need for relief from this court is that much more acute,” the filing reads.
The CBP One appointment process allowed 1450 migrants per day to seek asylum, the filing says.
ACLU requested an immediate status conference in the case.