Federal judge overturns Trump admin's 'third-country' asylum rule

July 1 (UPI) -- A federal judge has invalidated a Trump administration rule requiring that refugees seeking asylum at the southern U.S. border must first apply in a "safe" third country.

In a 52-page ruling late Tuesday, U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly of Washington, D.C., agreed with migrants and rights groups that the administration's "third-country asylum rule" violated U.S. law.

The rule was implemented after a number of Central American migrants from Honduras and Guatemala sought asylum in the United States, due to gang violence in their native countries. The caravans traveled through Mexico to reach the U.S. border.

The Departments of Justice and Homeland Security rolled out the rule after President Donald Trump vowed to stop the migrant caravans headed toward the United States.

Administration officials said the measure was aimed at reducing pressure on the immigration system "by more efficiently identifying aliens who are misusing the asylum system to enter and remain in the United States."

In his ruling Tuesday, Kelly vacated the rule and said it had been quickly imposed without the "notice-and-comment" procedures required under the Administrative Procedure Act, which requires a public commentary period for rule changes.

Kelly also denied the government's plea to stay the ruling pending an appeal.

Tuesday's was the administration's second legal setback on immigration in less than a month. The U.S. Supreme Court upheld the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program on June 18. The administration, however, has already begun to prepare a new challenge.