US authorities on Saturday Feb 04,2017 suspended President Donald Trump's controversial ban on travelers from seven Muslim countries, following a court ruling that blocked its enforcement.
The order, issued late Friday Feb 03,2017 by Seattle US District Judge James Robart, is valid across the United States, pending a full review of a complaint filed by Washington state's attorney general.
"We have reversed the provisional revocation of visas," a US State Department spokesman told AFP. The department had said some 60,000 travel visas had been revoked in compliance with the president's recent executive order.
"Those individuals with visas that were not physically cancelled may now travel if the visa is otherwise valid," the official said.
The official added that the Trump administration is "working closely with the Department of Homeland Security and our legal teams" pending a full review of a complaint filed by Washington state's attorney general, which filed one of several legal challenges to the measure.
The Department of Homeland Security, in a separate statement on Saturday wrote: "In accordance with the judge's ruling, DHS has suspended any and all actions implementing the affected sections of the executive order."
It added: "DHS personnel will resume inspection of travelers in accordance with standard policy and procedure," but said that US Department of Justice officials would launch an appeal "at the earliest possible time" to reinstate the ban, which the Trump administration believes "is lawful and appropriate."
"The order is intended to protect the homeland and the American people, and the President has no higher duty and responsibility than to do," the DHS statement said
US President Donal Trump's Executive Order' on immigration ban on refugees and citizens from 7 Muslim-majority nations
The decree prohibits entry to all refugees, regardless of nationality, for 120 days, and bars Syrian refugees indefinitely.
It also suspended the issuance of visas for 90 days to migrants or visitors from seven mainly Muslim countries: Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen.
'Federal Court Action'
Judge James Robart of the federal district court in Seattle ordered the nationwide suspension of the president's order.
His ruling stands until the court can study a complaint filed by the Washington state attorney general, Bob Ferguson. Critics including Ferguson say the measure unfairly targets Muslims.
Federal judges in several other states -- notably California and New York -- have also ruled against Trump's executive order, but Robart's ruling has by far the greatest sweep.
'Travel Ban Lifted... For Now'
"Those individuals with visas that were not physically canceled may now travel if the visa is otherwise valid," a State Department spokesperson said Saturday.
And the Department of Homeland Security, which has authority over border police, said that it was reverting to "standard policy and procedure."
'Trump's Next Move?'
The White House has said the Justice Department will challenge the federal judge's ruling, and ask for an emergency stay of that ruling.
If the appeals court were to uphold Robart's ruling, the case could go to the Supreme Court, said Peter Spiro, a law professor at Temple University in Philadelphia.
US President Donal Trump's Executive Order' on immigration ban on refugees and citizens from 7 Muslim-majority nations
The decree prohibits entry to all refugees, regardless of nationality, for 120 days, and bars Syrian refugees indefinitely.
'Federal Court Action'
Judge James Robart of the federal district court in Seattle ordered the nationwide suspension of the president's order.
His ruling stands until the court can study a complaint filed by the Washington state attorney general, Bob Ferguson. Critics including Ferguson say the measure unfairly targets Muslims.
Federal judges in several other states -- notably California and New York -- have also ruled against Trump's executive order, but Robart's ruling has by far the greatest sweep.
'Travel Ban Lifted... For Now'
"Those individuals with visas that were not physically canceled may now travel if the visa is otherwise valid," a State Department spokesperson said Saturday.
And the Department of Homeland Security, which has authority over border police, said that it was reverting to "standard policy and procedure."
'Trump's Next Move?'
The White House has said the Justice Department will challenge the federal judge's ruling, and ask for an emergency stay of that ruling.
If the appeals court were to uphold Robart's ruling, the case could go to the Supreme Court, said Peter Spiro, a law professor at Temple University in Philadelphia.
No comments:
Post a Comment