Federal Judge Blocks Trump ‘Foreign Terrorist Entry’ Executive Order, Administration Plans to Appeal

NEW YORK—A federal judge in Seattle issued an injunction temporarily blocking President Donald Trump’s immigration ban late Friday. The ruling bars the government from enforcing two parts of the “Foreign Terrorist Entry” executive order that banned citizens from seven countries – Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen – from entering the country and limited the flow of refugees.

The ruling resulted in an immediate change in U.S. policy. Customs and Border Protection told airlines they could now allow passengers affected by the ban to travel to the United States.

The judge, James Robart of the Federal District Court for the Western District of Washington, said that the federal government was “arguing that we have to protect the U.S. from individuals from these countries, and there’s no support for that,” in a decision delivered from the bench.

The White House issued a statement vowing to fight what it termed an “outrageous” ruling and said it plans to seek an emergency halt to the order and restore the president’s “lawful and appropriate order.”

“The president’s order is intended to protect the homeland and he has the constitutional authority and responsibility to protect the American people,” the White House added.

(Photo: Accura Media Group)