US Judge Temporarily Blocks Trump's Travel Ban Nationwide
SEATTLE (AP) — A U.S. judge on Friday temporarily blocked President Donald Trump's ban on travelers and immigrants from seven predominantly Muslim countries after Washington state and Minnesota urged a nationwide hold on the executive order that has launched legal battles across the country.
U.S. District Judge James Robart in Seattle ruled that the states had standing to challenge Trump's order, which government lawyers disputed, and said they showed their case was likely to succeed.
"The state has met its burden in demonstrating immediate and irreparable injury," Robart said.
Trump's order last week sparked protests nationwide and confusion at airports as some travelers were detained. The White House has argued that it will make the country safer.
Washington became the first state to sue over the order that temporarily bans travel for people from Iran, Iraq, Syria, Sudan, Somalia, Libya and Yemen and suspends the U.S. refugee program.
State Attorney General Bob Ferguson said this week that the travel ban significantly harms residents and effectively mandates discrimination. Minnesota joined the suit two days later.
After the ruling, Ferguson said people from the affected countries can now apply for entry to the U.S.
"Judge Robart's decision, effective immediately ... puts a halt to President Trump's unconstitutional and unlawful executive order," Ferguson said. "The law is a powerful thing — it has the ability to hold everybody accountable to it, and that includes the president of the United States."
Gillian M. Christensen, a spokeswoman for the Department of Homeland Security, said the agency doesn't comment on pending litigation.
Federal attorneys had argued that Congress gave the president authority to make decisions on national security and immigrant entry.
The two states won a temporary restraining order while the court considers the lawsuit, which aims to permanently block Trump's order. Court challenges have been filed nationwide from states and advocacy groups.
Up to 60,000 foreigners from the seven majority-Muslim countries had their visas canceled because of the executive order, the State Department said Friday.
That figure contradicts a statement from a Justice Department lawyer on the same day during a court hearing in Virginia about the ban. The lawyer in that case, said about 100,000 visas had been revoked.
The State Department clarified that the higher figure includes diplomatic and other visas that were actually exempted from the travel ban, as well as expired visas.
Washington and Minnesota's lawsuit says Trump campaigned on a promise to ban Muslims from coming to the U.S. and kept up that rhetoric while defending the travel ban. Lawyers pointed to dozens of speeches and statements Trump has made.
"The executive order effectively mandates that the states engage in discrimination based on national origin and/or religion, thereby rescinding the states' historic protection of civil rights and religious freedom," the complaint says.
Ferguson said the order is harming Washington residents, businesses and its education system. It will reduce tax revenue and impose significant costs on state agencies, as well as make it impossible for some state employees and students to travel, he said.
Washington-based businesses Amazon, Expedia and Microsoft support the state's efforts to stop the order. They say it's hurting their operations, too.
Lawyers for Washington state said another hearing was expected in the next few weeks.
In the meantime, the travel ban is temporarily lifted, and if the lawsuit wins, it could be lifted permanently.
This all developing as our new CBS news poll reveals the country is deeply divided over the travel ban -- 45 percent of people surveyed said they approve while 51 percent of Americans disapprove.
There's a similar split among Americans over the president's refugee ban.
Some critics have called Mr. Trump's action a "Muslim ban." The president and his supporters have repeatedly denied those claims.
The vast majority of Muslim countries, of course, don't come under this temporary halt of immigration from those countries," says Maryland Rep. Andy Harris (R).
Members of the Maryland immigrant community tell WJZ they still fear the worst.
One Syrian family hopeful cities like Baltimore will continue to support immigrants.
"This is very good. What is good about America is diversity," says Lobana Arbaout.
The fundamental question being asked by many in the community is what does it mean for Baltimore to be a welcoming city for immigrants?
Baltimore City police commissioner Kevin Davis answered concerns Friday night.
"We don't check immigration status, we don't care what your immigration status is," says Commissioner Davis.
Mario Morales says him and for many others, the biggest fear is what it'll all mean for their families.
"I don't want my family to be separated or to have to emigrate in a matter back to my country and cut my daughter's future short," he says.
The White House issued a statement tonight saying in part: "The department of Justice intends to file an emergency stay of this 'outrageous order and defend the executive order of the president.'"
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Associated Press reporter Alicia A. Caldwell contributed from Washington.
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