The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has filed a lawsuit against U.S. President Donald Trump over his decision to close the U.S.-Mexico border. The lawsuit was filed on Monday in the District Court of Washington, D.C.
The ACLU, which advocates for immigrant rights, describes Trump’s immigration actions as “illegal” and “undesirable.” The lawsuit argues that the Trump administration is acting in direct violation of U.S. Congress’ laws, stating: “The government is doing exactly what directly contradicts Congressional law. Without Congressional approval, the government is sending asylum seekers—including not just individuals but entire families—back to countries where they face the imminent risk of persecution or harm.”
The lawsuit has been filed in collaboration with several organizations, including the Florence Project based in Arizona, the Las American Immigrant Advocacy Center from El Paso, and the Texas-based organization, RAICES.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has yet to comment on the lawsuit. However, White House spokesperson Kush Desai responded to the issue in a statement to the Associated Press, saying, “The American people have given President Trump a mandate to end the abuse and misuse of our immigration laws, and to secure our borders. The Trump administration will always put the American people and the country first.”
The U.S.-Mexico border, located in the southern United States, has been a hotspot for border crossings for several years, with a large number of migrants from Mexico, Central America, and South America attempting to enter the U.S. daily.
During his first term from 2017 to 2020, President Trump initiated the construction of a wall along the border. However, after President Joe Biden won the 2020 election, he halted the wall construction upon taking office in 2021.
Trump regained the presidency after winning the 2024 election, and upon assuming office, he promptly closed the southern border once again, as well as shutting down shelters built for migrants crossing the border.
In an executive order regarding the border closures, Trump stated, “The arrival of migrants in waves like this is essentially an invasion, and we must take strict action to protect the United States and its citizens from this aggression.”
