Supreme Court Upholds Border Metering Policy

The ruling overturns a lower court decision that had blocked the policy, known as metering. Originally implemented under the Obama administration to manage surges of Haitian migrants and later expanded under Donald Trump, the practice forces asylum seekers to wait in often dangerous conditions on the Mexican side of the border. While the Department of Homeland Security has not confirmed immediate plans to reinstate the policy, agency general counsel James Percival described the ruling as an important tool for border security.

The legal battle hinges on whether asylum seekers are legally considered to have arrived in the country upon reaching a port of entry. The Justice Department successfully argued that immigration agents are not required to process those who have not yet stepped onto American soil. Justice Samuel Alito, writing for the majority, emphasized that the practice has historical precedent across multiple administrations. In a rare display of judicial friction, Justice Sonia Sotomayor dissented from the bench, warning that the decision tragically extinguishes the ideals represented by the Statue of Liberty. Advocates, including the group Al Otro Lado, condemned the outcome, arguing that the resulting hardening of the border will inevitably lead to an increase in lost lives among vulnerable populations.