WASHINGTON—U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Acting Director Ken Cuccinelli issued the following statement on the Supreme Court’s decision to permit the enforcement of the Trump Administration’s asylum rule requiring asylum seekers to seek protection in at least one third country they traveled through en route to the United States.
“I applaud the Supreme Court’s decision to strike down judicial activists’ injunction and allow the Trump Administration to carry out its rule to strengthen the asylum process. I commend the work done by the attorneys at the Department of Justice to achieve this outstanding outcome. The Administration’s rule is designed to safeguard the integrity of the U.S. asylum system and ensure asylum seekers seek protection in the first safe country they travel through.
“For far too long, the loopholes in our nation’s asylum system have been exploited by drug cartels, human traffickers and other organized crime factions in order to shuttle those seeking economic opportunities and family reunification through our southern border. This kind of abuse creates illicit cash flows to violent criminals, frustrates the efforts of legitimate asylum seekers and undermines the integrity of our immigration system.
“Because Congress refuses to act, the Trump Administration has exercised the necessary authorities available under the law to address this crisis at the border. We are committed to safeguarding our homeland, our border and appropriate legal pathways into the United States.”
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