A U.S. Court of Appeals has put a halt to President Trump’s controversial travel ban, denying the Department of Justice’s motion to override a lower court’s ruling on the ban.
Since the Trump administration announced its travel ban, restricting immigrants from seven Muslim-majority countries, its legitimacy has been denounced, supported, and debated. Now, the debate has become a legal one as rulings are issued by U.S. courts.
The legal opposition to the ban began when a Washington State judge issued a temporary restraining order of the ban. The Department of Justice responded to this ruling by filing an emergency motion to halt the Washington judge’s order.
Now, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit has overruled the Department of Justice’s motion.
The court has received appellants' emergency motion (Docket Entry No. 14)," read the ruling from the appeals court. "Appellants' request for an immediate administrative stay pending full consideration of the emergency motion for a stay pending appeal is denied."
The Trump administration continues to argue that the travel ban is completely lawful, that immigration is an issue dedicated to the executive branch and that the order does not discriminate against religion, but focuses on enacting extreme vetting procedures on residents of countries where terrorism has been proved to be a threat.
Americans--and Republicans--are divided on the ban. Although most Republican lawmakers ultimately support the measure, both Republicans and Democrats have criticized its rollout. CBS News reports that 45 percent of Americans approve of the ban, while 51 percent disapprove.
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Publication date: February 6, 2017