IMMIGRATION/JUSTICE DEPARTMENT/SUPREME COURT/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT: “The Supreme Court on Friday [12-21-18] rejected a request from the Trump administration to restart an asylum ban that would have prevented migrants who enter the country illegally from applying for asylum. U.S. District Judge Jon Tigar placed a temporary hold on the Trump administration’s new rules to cut off asylum for migrants who enter the country illegally on Nov. 19. The Justice Department took the unusual step of jumping straight to the Supreme Court to reinstate the ban, but the justice turned down that request by a 5-4 vote. That means the asylum ban will remain on hold as the case proceeds through lower courts. Both of Trump’s Supreme Court nominees — Justices Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh — voted to allow the asylum ban to be revived, joining Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito. But Chief Justice John Roberts joined the remaining members of the court in turning down the Trump administration request.”
–Alan Gomez, “Supreme Court turns down Trump request to restart asylum ban,” USA Today, December 21, 2018 8:08 pm