Hawaii judge freezes Trump's revamped travel ban: Court
HONOLULU — A federal judge in Hawaii halted President Donald Trump's revised travel ban Wednesday, hours before it was due to take effect, court documents showed.
Demonstrators, including women dressed in traditional Muslim head coverings known as hijab, opposed to President Donald Trump's executive orders barring entry to the U.S. by Muslims from seven countries, march through the Tom Bradley International Terminal at Los Angeles International Airport. Photo: AP
HONOLULU — A federal judge in Hawaii halted President Donald Trump's revised travel ban Wednesday, hours before it was due to take effect, court documents showed.
US District Judge Derrick Watson ruled that the state of Hawaii, in its legal challenge to Trump's executive order, had established a strong likelihood that the ban would cause "irreparable injury" if it were to go ahead.
The court in Honolulu was the first to rule on a trio of legal challenges against the ban, which targets all refugees and people from six mainly Muslim countries. Decisions were expected later Wednesday from federal courts in Washington state and Maryland.
But the ruling means a nationwide freeze on enforcement of section two of the order, banning entry by nationals of Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen for 90 days.
It also halts section six, suspending the US refugee admissions programme for 120 days.
"The court declines to stay this ruling or hold it in abeyance should an emergency appeal of this order be filed," the ruling said.
Trump's administration says the travel ban is necessary to keep extremists from entering the United States. AFP
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