Press Statement on 9th Circuit Ruling

“We are pleased that the Ninth Circuit partially granted the government’s stay application in this case pending further appeal. Unfortunately, in the same decision, the Ninth Circuit also allowed a radical decision from a district judge to go into effect during the pendency of the government’s appeal, which had held unconstitutional a section of the Immigration and Nationality Act. Based on the unprecedented theory that illegal aliens who recently entered the country have a constitutional right to be released on bond into the United States, the district court struck down a statute passed by bipartisan majorities in Congress during the Clinton administration specifically requiring certain aliens to be detained pending their asylum proceedings. We strongly disagree with that decision and expect to prevail on the merits of the appeal and to see the law upheld.” — Steven Groves, Deputy Press Secretary