Court Blocks Matter of M-S-; Detained Asylum Applicants May Seek Bond

In Matter of M-S- (slated to take effect in mid-July) Attorney General Barr stated: "I read [INA] section 235(b)(1)(B)(ii) to mandate detention (i) for the purpose of ensuring additional review of an asylum claim, and (ii) for so long as that review is ongoing. In other words, section 235(b)(1)(B)(ii) requires detention until removal proceedings conclude."

On July 2, 2019 U.S. Senior District Judge Marsha J. Pechman ruled, in Padilla v. ICE: "[T]he statutory prohibition at Immigration and Nationality Act § 235(b)(1)(B)(ii) against releasing on bond persons found to have a credible fear of persecution if returned to their country and awaiting a determination of their asylum application violates the U.S. Constitution; the Bond Hearing Class is constitutionally entitled to a bond hearing (under the conditions enumerated above) pending resolution of their asylum applications."

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