Travel Ban Put On More Permanent Hold

Pres. Trump’s travel ban has been put on hold once again, thanks to a ruling last night that changed the temporary restraining order into a more final preliminary injunction.

The injunction from U.S. District Court Judge Derrick Watson, the same judge whose restraining order blocked the travel ban two weeks ago, found the ban likely violates the Establishment Clause of the Constitution by disfavoring Muslims.

Though Pres. Trump redrafted the executive order after it was blocked by several federal courts, Watson said the revised version still appears to be driven by anti-Muslim sentiment.

President Trump’s ban on issuing visa to foreign nationals from six Muslim-majority countries, and the ban on refugees entering the country, are now blocked indefinitely, unless the Justice Department appeals and a higher court changes the decision—which may well happen. The Justice Department said in a statement this this morning that it “strongly disagrees with the federal district court’s ruling. The President’s executive order falls squarely within his lawful authority in seeking to protect our nation’s security, and the department will continue to defend this executive order in the courts.”