Supreme Court conservatives grapple with ‘metering’ rules in key immigration case

The Supreme Court's conservative justices questioned whether the federal government has authority to turn back asylum-seekers at the border before they can formally apply for protection, a practice called "metering" that the Trump administration wants to expand. The policy, which allows border officials to deny migrants access to ports of entry, originated under the Obama administration and has become central to the Trump White House's immigration enforcement strategy. The case hinges on whether such rejections violate asylum law, which generally requires the government to hear claims from people who reach U.S. soil or ports of entry. Conservative justices appeared skeptical of broad restrictions on the practice, suggesting potential support for the Trump administration's position. A ruling could significantly reshape asylum access at the southern border by allowing officials to manage migrant flow upstream rather than processing claims once migrants arrive.