Federal court blocks Trump asylum rules hours after judge ruled to keep restrictions in place

A federal judge in California late Wednesday blocked the Trump administration's new asylum rule that dramatically limits the ability of Central American migrants to claim asylum if they enter the US by land through Mexico. The ruling from US District Judge Jon Tigar, a Barack Obama nominee, came hours after another federal judge in Washington, DC, an appointee of President Donald Trump, had declined to block the rule. Tigar's decision, which affects the entire country, overrides the earlier ruling. "This new rule is likely invalid because it is inconsistent with the existing asylum laws," Tigar wrote. "An injunction," Tigar wrote, "would vindicate the public's interest -- which our existing immigration laws clearly articulate -- in ensuring that we do not deliver aliens into the hands of their persecutors." The rule, which was implemented a little over a week ago, from the departments of Justice and Homeland Security would prohibit migrants who have resided or "transited en route" in a third country from seeking asylum in the US, therefore barring migrants traveling through Mexico from being able to claim asylum and as a result, drastically limit who's eligible for asylum...MORE