Late Friday the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals issued a temporary stay on a lower court’s ruling that would have stopped the Trump administration from keeping asylum seekers in Mexico to await court hearings. Yep … the 9th Circuit!

A three-judge panel issued the temporary stay on Judge Richard Seeborg’s ruling that was issued on Monday. Seeborg sided with civil liberties groups who have aimed to halt the practice while their suit challenging the policy proceeds.

His order was scheduled to take effect Friday afternoon. Seeborg stated that the policy is in violation of U.S. law because it fails to evaluate dangers migrants are faced with in Mexico. The suit was filed on behalf of 11 Central American asylum-seekers by advocacy groups, stating that an increase in violent crime on the Mexican side of the border puts them at risk.

The government’s position is that Seeborg’s ruling is in error and would endanger the public, given the escalating humanitarian crisis at the border.

In the past, families seeking asylum have been released into the U.S. to await their court appearances. The new policy keeping them in Mexico until their court hearings took effect in January, with more than 1300 asylum seekers sent back to Mexico so far, according to the government of Mexico.

The administration has repeatedly said that the policy is a result of the shortage of detention space for migrants. Border immigration personnel have been overwhelmed by the growing influx of immigrants, as thousands have left Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras due to widespread poverty and growing gang violence in the region.

The temporary Court of Appeals ruling gives civil liberties groups until Tuesday to submit arguments on why the asylum policy should be put on hold. The government has until Wednesday to argue why it should remain in place.

Source: Court temporarily blocks halt to Trump policy forcing asylum by Fox News

“You want to know why this country is being overrun?” commentator Mark Levin said earlier this week. “Because of the federal courts interfering in immigration. They never did that with Obama. When Arizona said, ‘You know what, we’re going to enforce federal immigration laws, whether Obama does it or not,’ the Supreme Court 5-4, with Anthony Kennedy writing the opinion, said, ‘No, you’re not. The president gets to decide.'”

At the time Seeborg issued his ruling to block the policy, White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders tweeted, “A liberal activist judge in San Francisco ruled the United States and Mexico can’t work together to address asylum issues at the border. It’s sad that Mexico is now doing more to secure our border than Democrats – President Trump will do whatever it takes to keep Americans safe.”

Finally, great news at the Border! https://t.co/nofzYa2Qs7 — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 13, 2019

BREAKING: The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled to uphold the Trump administration's policy on making asylum seekers wait for their court hearings in Mexico, as opposed to the United States. BIG WIN! ?? — Ryan Fournier (@RyanAFournier) April 13, 2019