Trump’s Revised Travel Ban Temporarily Blocked By Federal Judge in Hawaii

Editor’s note: This story is still developing.

President Trump’s revised travel ban has been temporarily struck down by a federal judge in Hawaii. The modified ban, which is facing legal challenges in numerous courtrooms across the country, received an official ruling late Wednesday afternoon.

The New York Times reports:

Administration lawyers argued in multiple courts on Wednesday that the president was merely exercising his national security powers and that no element of the executive order, as written, could be construed as a religious test for travelers.

But in the lawsuit brought by Hawaii’s attorney general, Doug Chin, Judge Derrick K. Watson appeared skeptical of the government’s claim that past comments by Mr. Trump and his allies had no bearing on the case.

The revised travel ban underwent modifications after its constitutionality was struck down in early February. Trump and his administration hoped the second iteration of the travel ban, which affects travelers and refugees from six majority-Muslim countries, would stand up in court.

The revised travel ban would have gone into effect at midnight Thursday.

The American Civil Liberties Union cheered the news on Twitter:

Hurray for Hawaii. Trump’s Muslim ban BLOCKED! #NoBanNoWallNoRaids

— ACLU of Maryland (@ACLU_MD) March 15, 2017

Trump, who is set to be interviewed on Tucker Carlson’s show on Fox News tonight, has not yet commented on the Hawaii ruling.

—Posted by Emma Niles

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