Under U.S. federal law, a person seeking asylum must prove that they fear persecution from their native country and that this persecution would be based on race, religion, nationality, political views, or social groups. On January 25, 2018, President Trump passed the Migrant Protection Protocols, commonly known as the "Remain in Mexico" Program, which would send asylum seekers in the United States back to Mexico while they await their hearing. Seven ports of entries have implemented this program, four of which are in Texas: El Paso-Ciudad Juárez, Brownsville-Matamoros, Laredo-Nuevo Laredo, and Eagle Pass-Piedras Negras. The United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit halted the program in Arizona and California on March 4, 2020, ruling that the program violates United States law. However, the law remained in effect in the four ports in Texas. On March 11, 2020, the Supreme Court granted a temporary appeal that put a hold on the Ninth Circuit appeal and allowed the "Remain in Mexico" program to continue. A final ruling on the Migrant Protection Protocols Program is pending as of March 2020.