About this episode

The episode discusses the Supreme Court case Mullin v. Al Otro Lado, focusing on immigration law and the rights of asylum seekers at U.S. borders.

Mullin, Secretary of Homeland Security, et al. v. Al Otro Lado, et al. | Case No. 25-5 | Docket Link: https://www.supremecourt.gov/search.aspx?filename=/docket/docketfiles/html/public/25-5.html | Argued: March 24, 2026 | Decided: June 25, 2026 Overview: Border-access challenge determining whether federal immigration law requires officers to inspect and process asylum seekers at ports of entry before they cross into U.S. territory, or whether statutory duties attach only upon physical territorial entry. Question Presented: Whether noncitizens blocked at the border before physically crossing "arrive in the United States," triggering mandatory inspection and asylum-processing duties under federal immigration law. Posture: Ninth Circuit affirmed district court; district court declared metering policy unlawful; Supreme Court reversed. Main Arguments: Government (Petitioner): (1) "Arrives in" carries its ordinary meaning — physical territorial entry; a running back stopped at the 1-yard line has not arrived in the end zone; (2) INA inspection and removal procedures presuppose U.S. presence — officers cannot enforce them against people standing in Mexico; (3) Sale v. Haitian Centers…

Topics covered

• immigration law
• asylum seekers
• border access
• Supreme Court
• legal arguments
• federal law

Keywords

• Mullin v. Al Otro Lado
• immigration law
• asylum processing
• border access
• Supreme Court
• Ninth Circuit
• legal arguments

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Mullin, Secretary of Homeland Security, Al Otro Lado

Books & works: Sale v. Haitian Centers Council

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