Mullin v. Al Otro Lado

Summary

Filed in July 12, 2017, the lawsuit argues that Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers illegally turned away asylum seekers or forced them to wait on bridges and in shelters (metering) instead of inspecting and processing their asylum claims as required by U.S. and international law. The lawsuit also claims that Customs and Border Patrol used manipulation to deny asylum.

The District Court and Ninth Circuit court both ruled in favor of the plaintiffs. But on May 14, 2025, the Ninth Circuit issued an order amending their earlier opinion. The case went up to the supreme court. On June 25, 2026, the U.S. The Supreme Court ruled that noncitizens stopped on the Mexican side of the U.S.- Mexico border did not legally “arrive in the United States” under the Immigration and Nationality Act.

Impact

The Supreme Court’s ruling threatens the lives of thousands of asylum seekers. By leaving them in unsecure border areas these people are vulnerable to cartel violence, extortion, and dangerous, unauthorized crossings. It also represents a major setback to the Refugee Act of 1980 and long-standing international refugee norms regarding non-refoulement at borders.

Sources

https://cgrs.uclawsf.edu/en/our-work/litigation/mullin-v-al-otro-lado https://www.americanimmigrationcouncil.org/litigation/al-otro-lado-v-mullin/