US Federal Judge Blocks Trump's Travel Ban
A chaotic night set up the nation for a second straight weekend of widespread uncertainty over the controversial ban, this time with the administration on defense.
Federal Judge James Robart, a George W. Bush appointee who presides in Washington state, temporarily stopped the order.
US Customs and Border Protection then alerted airlines the US government would quickly begin reinstating visas that were previously canceled, and CBP advised airlines that refugees that are in possession of US visas will be admitted as well, an airline executive said.
But the White House quickly countered, first calling the order “outrageous” and then dropping that word minutes later in a second statement.
“At the earliest possible time, the Department of Justice intends to file an emergency stay of this outrageous order and defend the executive order of the President, which we believe is lawful and appropriate,” White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer said in a statement.
“The President’s order is intended to protect the homeland and he has the constitutional authority and responsibility to protect the American people.”
The ruling may have stung even more for the Trump administration because it came on the heels of its first legal victory over the travel ban.
Hours earlier, a federal judge in Boston issued a more limited ruling that declined to renew a temporary restraining order in Massachusetts, which would have prohibited the detention or removal of foreign travelers legally authorized to come to the Boston area.
But it was the sweeping Seattle ruling that had the federal government scrambling.
Trump’s executive order that he signed last week suspended immigration from seven Muslim-majority countries for 90 days, the US refugee program for 120 days and indefinitely halted Syrian refugees from entering the US.
This suit was brought by the states of Washington and Minnesota against the travel ban enacted by Trump’s executive order. A federal official told CNN DOJ lawyers were not expected to file an appeal Friday night.
A Customs and Border Protection spokesman told CNN the agency will review the order and comply with all court orders. The State Department is working with the Department of Homeland Security to determine the effect of the stay, a State Department official said.
Democrats, including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, immediately hailed Robart’s order.
“This ruling is a victory for the Constitution and for all of us who believe this un-American executive order will not make us safer,” Schumer said in a statement. “President Trump should heed this ruling and he ought to back off and repeal the executive order once and for all.”
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