Seattle judge blocks Trump immigration order, White House to appeal

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‍A federal judge in Seattle on Friday put a nationwide block on US President Donald Trump's week-old executive order temporarily barring refugees and nationals from seven countries from entering the United States.

The judge's temporary restraining order represents a major challenge to Trump's action, though the White House said late Friday that it believed the ban to be "lawful and appropriate" and that the US Department of Justice would file an emergency appeal.

Opponents of US President Donald Trump's executive order travel ban greet international travelers at Logan Airport in Boston, Massachusetts, US February 3, 2017. /Reuters Photo

Judge James Robart, a George W. Bush appointee, made his ruling effective immediately on Friday, suggesting that travel restrictions could be lifted straight away. He is expected to issue a full written ruling over the weekend.

And just hours after the ruling, US Customs and Border Protection told airlines they could board travelers who have valid visas and had been affected by the ban.

The White House said it would file an appeal as soon as possible.

Demonstrators pray as they participate in a protest by the Yemeni community against US President Donald Trump's travel ban in the Brooklyn borough of New York, US, February 2, 2017. /Reuters Photo

“At the earliest possible time, the Department of Justice intends to file an emergency stay of this outrageous order and defend the executive order of the president, which we believe is lawful and appropriate,” the White House said in a statement.

"The president’s order is intended to protect the homeland and he has the constitutional authority and responsibility to protect the American people."

The new Republican president's order signed on January 27 triggered chaos at US airports last weekend. Some travelers abroad were turned back from flights into the United States, crowds of hundreds of people packed into arrival areas to protest and legal objections were filed across the country.

Yemeni-American business owners from across the New York city area protest against the Muslim ban imposed by US President Donald Trump outside Borough Hall in Brooklyn on February 2, 2017 in New York, US. /VCG Photo

The challenge in Seattle court was brought by the state of Washington and later joined by the state of Minnesota. The judge ruled that the states have legal standing to sue, which could help Democratic attorneys general take on Trump in court on issues beyond immigration.

The decision came on a day that attorneys from four states were in courts challenging Trump's executive order. The Trump administration justified the action on national security grounds, but opponents labeled it an unconstitutional order targeting people based on religious beliefs.

(Source: Reuters)

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