Federal court rejects Trump administration request to reinstate travel ban

A federal appeals court denied a request from the Justice Department to immediately reinstate President Trump’s ban on accepting certain travellers and all refugees, according to CBC.

A temporary order was put in place restraining the ban nationwide, with the Trump administration launching an appeal on Saturday night; however, the federal appeals court’s decision means that the ban will remain suspended until the full case has been heard.

Two states – Washington and Minnesota – said that the ban was unconstitutional. However, the Justice Department argued that Judge James Robart – blasted by Trump as a ‘so-called judge’ on Twitter after the decision – was ‘second guessing’ the president on a matter of national security.

Robart’s written order on Friday had stated that, while it was not within the remit of the court to create or judge policy, it has a duty to ensure that action taken by the government ‘comports with our country’s laws.’

The decision against the Trump administration means that foreigners from Libya, Somalia, Yemen, Sudan, Iraq, Syria or Iran who had their visas cancelled could now travel to the U.S. if they had a valid visa.

The State Department advised refugee aid agencies that refugees set to travel before Trump signed his order will now be allowed to enter the country.