In a legal clash brimming with tension, the Biden administration and a coalition of asylum-seekers vehemently opposed Republican-led states’ attempts to intervene in a lawsuit challenging asylum restrictions. Both sides argued that the states had already acknowledged the administration’s robust defense of the rules.
Biden Administration Stands Firm
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) adamantly defended the asylum rule, highlighting its unwavering stance over the past ten months. In a motion filed Thursday, the DOJ countered the states’ bid for intervention, emphasizing that the federal government adequately represented their interests.
The DOJ’s opposition motion contended that the states had tacitly admitted to the administration’s effective defense of the rule, refuting any grounds for intervention. The administration underscored its commitment to upholding the rule, seeking and obtaining a stay pending appeal to maintain its validity.
Asylum-Seekers Assert Their Position
Echoing the administration’s stance, asylum-seekers rebuffed the states’ intervention attempt, citing the states’ acknowledgment of the government’s vigorous defense. They argued that the states’ disagreement with litigation tactics didn’t warrant intervention, emphasizing the absence of justification for their intrusion into the lawsuit.