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U.S. Says Crush on Asylum System Justifies New Restriction

  • Justice Department responds to suit seeking to block new rule
  • Trump policy aims to save lives, U.S. says in court filing
A U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer stands near a section of the U.S. and Mexico border wall near the beach in Tijuana, Mexico.

A U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer stands near a section of the U.S. and Mexico border wall near the beach in Tijuana, Mexico.

Photographer: Cesar Rodriguez/Bloomberg

The U.S. government said an overwhelming crush by immigrants crossing the southern border justifies a new rule restricting asylum applications from Central Americans who haven’t sought protection from persecution or torture in another country through which they passed.

The Justice Department on Friday filed its response to a request by immigrant rights’ groups for an emergency court order to halt enforcement of the rule. It urged the judge to reject the group’s request. A hearing on the request is scheduled Wednesday San Francisco federal court.