Seattle, Boston (Reuters): Seattle’s federal judge ordered to halt a nationwide block on President Donald Trump's week-old executive order temporarily barring refugees and nationals from seven countries from entering the United States.
Trump's action may face a major setback due to the Seattle judge's temporary restrain, although his administration could still have the policy put back into effect with an appeal.
According to White House statement, it is believed the ban to be "lawful and appropriate" and said the U.S. Department of Justice would file an emergency motion to stop the judge's order taking effect.
Seattle’s Judge James Robart, a George W. Bush appointee, made his ruling effective instantly suggesting that travel ban could be lifted straight away.
Soon after the judgment, U.S. Customs and Border Protection told airlines to board travelers affected by the ban. The U.S. State Department is working with the Department of Homeland Security to work out how Friday's ruling affects its operations, a spokesman told Reuters, and will announce any changes affecting travelers as soon as information is available.
Robart's ruling followed an earlier decision by a federal judge in Boston declining to extend a temporary restraining order allowing some immigrants into the United States from countries affected by Trump's three-month ban.
The federal judge's ruling takes effect because it considered the broad constitutionality of Trump’s order.
Robart also explicitly made his ruling apply across the country, while other judges facing similar cases have so far issued orders concerning only specific individuals.