Wyden, Merkley demand Trump revoke ‘illegal’ asylum proclamation

Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., have joined their colleagues in calling on President Donald Trump to immediately revoke what they called an illegal presidential proclamation that would drastically limit the ability of refugees to claim asylum.

The lawmakers noted U.S. District Judge Jon Tigar recently granted a temporary restraining order blocking implementation of the proclamation, which they said directly contradicts existing statute.

“There is overwhelming evidence that this proclamation is plainly illegal,” the senators wrote in a letter to Trump on Friday. “Our immigration statutes are clear that any individual who arrives in the United States ‘whether or not at a designated port of arrival’ may apply for asylum.

“Our courts have long recognized this principle, repeatedly emphasizing that asylum seekers cannot have their claims denied solely because of how they entered the country,” the lawmakers added.

The letter also was signed by Sens. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Tom Carper (D-DE), Edward J. Markey (D-MA), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Kamala D. Harris (D-CA), Patrick Leahy (D-VT) and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA).

A full copy of the letter can be found here.