(CNN) A federal judge has denied a Justice Department request, because of the shutdown, to pause all deadlines in a DC federal court case challenging the administration's asylum restrictions.

Judge Randolph Moss wrote that those challenging the asylum restrictions view this as a case related to human safety and as such, despite the shutdown, deadlines for case filings remain in place. The next briefs are due to the court on January 4.

On Wednesday, government attorneys asked the court to delay "all briefing deadlines" in a lawsuit brought on behalf of six people who were barred from seeking asylum because they entered the United States illegally.

Trump signed a proclamation in November that attempted to prevent migrants who cross the southern border illegally from seeking asylum. However, soon after, a judge in California blocked the administration's policy.

The Justice Department told the court that absent an appropriation, attorneys and the federal defendants are prohibited from working, even on a voluntary basis, except in very limited circumstances, including "emergencies involving the safety of human life or the protection of property."

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