WASHINGTON DC, United States—An appeals court in the United States has rejected a bid by President Donald Trump to reinstate his travel ban on seven Muslim countries, arguing that there was no evidence of terrorism inside the US against citizens of any of those countries.
The appeals court supported a federal judge in Washington State who ordered a stay on the president’s ban last week, making it possible for thousands of people affected by the ban to board flights to the US.
The panel of judges rejected a claim by the state department that the president had full discretion on making immigration policies.
The judges said there was "no evidence that any alien from any of the countries named in the order" had been involved in any fatal or terrorist attacks inside the US.
Adding meanwhile that the president was also right in his concern for national security.
"On the one hand, the public has a powerful interest in national security and in the ability of an elected president to enact policies.
"And on the other, the public also has an interest in free flow of travel, in avoiding separation of families, and in freedom from discrimination."
In response to the appeals court ruling, the justice department said on behalf of the White House that it was "reviewing the decision and considering its options".
The Trump ban cancelled immigrant and nonimmigrant visas of people from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen who could not enter the US for 90 days.
However, the new ruling coupled with the order of the federal judge last week means citizens of these countries can continue to enter the US.
The ban prompted angry protests across the United States, mainly at international airports where thousands of travelers and immigrants from the designated countries were briefly stranded.
Politicians have also condemned the Trump ban while the president himself tweeted in response: “See you in court, the security of our nation is at stake!”
from Rudaw http://ift.tt/2l09KfV
via Defense News
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