Photo by Giorgio Montersino via Wikimedia Commons shows plane queue at JFK International Airport, known as Gateway to America
In a unanimous decision, a U.S. Court of Appeals Thursday upheld a federal district judge’s suspension of a temporary ban on travel from seven Majority Muslim countries – signaling citizens with valid visas from the countries would continue to enter America.
The people of the seven countries – Iran, Iraq, Syria, Sudan, Somalia, Libya and Yemen – were barred from entering the United States under President Donald Trump’s executive order last month.
Reacting to the denial of his administration’s request to reinstate the executive measure, Trump, who has said it seeks to protect Americans against foreign terrorists, indicated another battle in the court in the days ahead.
“SEE YOU IN COURT, THE SECURITY OF OUR NATION IS AT STAKE,” the president said in a tweet.
In a restraining order last Friday, U.S. District Court Judge James Robart in Washington state had earlier put enforcement of the executive order on hold.
Complying with the District Judge’s decision, the Department of Homeland Security ceased implementation of the executive order, allowing travelers to enter the United States.
The Trump Administration – which believes that the executive order aims at stopping terrorists from entering the terrorism-prone countries – appealed against the restraining order following which a panel of three judges of the 9th Circuit Court in San Francisco listened to the views of both sides.
The panel comprised Judge Michelle T. Friedland, appointed by President Barack Obama, Judge William C. Canby Jr. , appointed by President Jimmy Carter and Judge Richard R. Clifton, appointed by President George W. Bush.
The Appellate Court dealt with the question whether enforcement of the executive order should be blocked.
Political observers say the Trump Administration might appeal the decision in the full 9th circuit appeal or even go directly to the Supreme Court, where the case could face a 4-4 stalemate in view of the apex court’s current complexion, resulting in continuation of the suspension of the travel ban order.
