6 caravan migrants are suing Trump over his border policies

Members of the Central American migrant caravan wait along the roadside as theymove to the next town on November 02, 2018 in Donaji, Mexico.
(Image credit: Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

Six Honduran migrants in the caravan slowly making its way through Mexico have filed a class-action lawsuit against President Trump's stated plans for their reception at the U.S. border.

The suit alleges Trump "continues to abuse the law, including constitutional rights, to deter Central Americans from exercising their lawful right to seek asylum in the United States." It argues his intent to refuse asylum to those who enter the U.S. illegally violates the Fifth Amendment's guarantee of due process, as current law allows asylum applications regardless of entry point.

"Trump's policy of keeping all persons detained until they must leave the country necessarily violates due process rights," said the migrants' attorney, John Shoreman. "[T]he plaintiffs are seeking asylum, and Trump simply cannot stop them from legally doing so by using military, or anyone."

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The White House and the Department of Justice did not comment on the suit.

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