US District Judge Derrick Watson has blocked US President Trump’s latest proposed legislation to introduce a 90-day ban on visitors from six mostly Muslim countries, plus a 120-day restriction on granting refugees into the US.

 

Citing ‘questionable evidence’, the judge sitting in Honolulu ordered ‘a temporary stay’ in a highly critical 43-page ruling ahead of tonight’s originally proposed travel ban deadline.

 

JUDGE SAYS PROPOSED BAN WAS STILL DISCRIMINATORY

He also went further by stating that in his view, Trump’s proposed ban was still discriminatory against Muslims and would not stand up to scrutiny under the US Constitution.

 

US President Trump reacted strongly last night, describing it as ‘an unprecedented judicial overreach’ in an address to a rally of supporters in Nashville. He also vowed to mount an appeal to get yesterday’s judgment – overseen by three federal judges – overturned on appeal and promised to take the matter to the US Supreme Court if necessary.

 

US PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS VOWED TO APPEAL

This latest case nevertheless represents another embarrassing defeat for Trump, after at least six US states declared their opposition to the proposed ban.

 

While Hawaii argued that the ban was still discriminatory, its lawyers also maintained that it would have a seriously negative impact on tourism into the US, as well as on recruitment of foreign workers.

 

At the same time, federal courts in both Washington and Maryland also engaged in hearings yesterday in relation to the proposed ban, while California, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, and Oregon registered their continued support for the rejection of Trump’s new legislation.

 

Commenting on yesterday’s judgment on Facebook, Bob Ferguson, Attorney General of Washington State said: “Today was another huge victory for the rule of law.

 

“While we were in court fighting President Trump’s travel ban, a federal judge in Hawaii issued a nationwide restraining order blocking implementation of the revised executive order. Great to have more partners in this fight…”

 

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE JUDGMENT

The official order granting the motion for the temporary restraining order represented the case of the plaintiffs – the State of Hawaii and Ismal Elshikh – versus Donald J.Trump, et al Defendants. Any readers wishing to obtain a copy of this latest ruling can do so at the following link: http://www.hid.uscourts.gov/files/announcement142/CV17-50%20219%20doc.pdf