Oscar Almonte Espinal

Earlier this year, “The American Civil Liberties Union, Southern Poverty Law Center, and Center for Gender & Refugee Studies filed a federal lawsuit challenging the Trump administration’s new policy forcing asylum seekers to return to Mexico and remain there while their cases are considered.” This case has been named Innovation Law Lab v. Wolf.

Just this October the Supreme Court decided to review this case which means that at least 60,000 migrants will be in the hands of the highest court of the country. This decision from the Supreme Court also comes just a week before Justice Amy Coney Barret was sworn in.

Amy Coney Barrett was sworn in this past Tuesday, October 27 becoming the 115^th Supreme Court Justice. This is new decision comes in just eight days before the election becoming the first time in American history a justice is sworn in so close to Nov 3.

Justice Barrett’s addition to the Supreme Court officially tilts the scales to six conservatives to three liberals, who may take different stances on decisions regarding women reproductive rights, health care, LGBTQIA+ issues, and immigration rights.

An article from Bustle reports, “Coney Barrett ruled against immigrants in 88% of the cases on the 7^th circuit, siding with business or government.” This same article also discusses Amy Coney Barrett’s views on children being separated from their parents in the border, quoting her as saying: “I’m not expressing assent or dissent with the morality of that position. I just can’t be drawn into a debate about the administration’s immigration policy.”

Though the election comes in on Nov. 3 and a new president can take the seat at the White House, a Supreme Court Justice’s job is for the rest of their life, meaning that they will be deciding on the most important cases of the nation for decades to come.

Justice Amy Coney Barrett’s addition to the court is a monumental decision that will affect immigrants as well as the rest of the nation.