Judge says Trump administration can't use travel ban to keep 80 refugees out of the US
Share this @internewscast.com

A federal judge has prohibited the Trump administration from applying its travel ban to prevent 80 already-vetted refugees from entering the United States.

On Monday, U.S. District Judge Jamal Whitehead in Seattle ruled that President Donald Trump’s June order, which bans people from 12 countries from entering the U.S., “expressly states” that it does not affect individuals seeking refugee status.

This order, named “Proclamation 10949—Restricting The Entry of Foreign Nationals to Protect the United States from Foreign Terrorists and Other National Security and Public Safety Threats,” includes a clause specifying that its provisions should not be interpreted to restrict an individual’s ability to pursue asylum, refugee status, withholding of removal, or protection under the CAT, in accordance with U.S. laws.

In his ruling, Whitehead said “by its plain terms, the Proclamation excludes refugees from its scope.”

Barring refugees from entering the U.S. would limit their ability to seek refugee status and therefore run counter to the Republican president’s order, the judge added.

He ordered the administration to immediately resume processing 80 “presumptively protected refugees” that were rejected based on the travel ban.

The State Department did not immediately have comment Tuesday.

Whitehead also laid out a process for the government to vet refugees from the countries covered by the travel ban and other countries who were denied entry when the president suspended the nation’s refugee admissions program within hours of taking office on Jan. 20.

The decision left thousands of refugees who had already gone through a sometimes years-long vetting process to start new lives in America stranded at various locations around the world, including relatives of active-duty U.S. military personnel and more than 1,600 Afghans who assisted America’s war efforts.

Under a framework established by an appellate court, those refugees should be admitted if they had previously been cleared for travel to the U.S., had arranged and confirmable travel plans and had taken steps such as selling property or giving up their home that showed a reliance on the U.S. government’s assurance of their refugee status.

The administration has previously said 12,000 people had been approved and booked for travel as refugees before it suspended the refugee program. Many of those cases will now have to be examined individually to see whether they meet the appeals court’s criteria for entry.

The lawsuit Whitehead is overseeing was filed in February by some individual refugees along with refugee aid organizations who said the administration froze their funding. The plaintiffs later asked the judge to make the case a class-action lawsuit so that the rulings could apply to other refugees facing similar circumstances.

Whitehead said the suspension likely amounted to a nullification of congressional will, since Congress created and funded the refugee admissions program. He issued a preliminary injunction barring the federal government from suspending refugee processing and refugee aid funding.

But the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals put most of that decision on hold in March, finding the administration was likely to win the case because the president has broad authority to determine who is allowed to enter the country. The appeals court later set out the criteria for admitting some of the refugees.

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like
Registered sex offender’s city council bid sparks fury as officials explore blocking his path

California City Council Candidate and Registered Sex Offender Holds Controversial Press Conference Near School, Prompting Police Response

An elementary school in California has taken legal action against a registered…
Savannah Guthrie visits 'TODAY' studio for first time since mother's disappearance

Emotional Return: Savannah Guthrie Reunites with ‘TODAY’ Studio Amid Personal Turmoil

Savannah Guthrie made a heartfelt return to Studio 1A in New York…
'Brady Bunch' house, used in exterior shots for the popular sitcom, gets Los Angeles landmark status

Iconic ‘Brady Bunch’ House Achieves Landmark Status: A New Chapter in Los Angeles History

Los Angeles is now home to a newly designated landmark that holds…
Latest news on Iran war: Chicago-area residents remain stuck in Middle East; Gov. JB Pritzker calls for evacuation plan

Developments in Iran Conflict: Chicago-Area Citizens Stranded in Middle East as Gov. JB Pritzker Urges Evacuation Strategy

CHICAGO (WLS) — Illinois Governor JB Pritzker has reached out to the…
Asking Eric: Parents worry about college-age son’s ‘junk’ diet

Concerned Parents Seek Advice on Son’s Unhealthy College Eating Habits

Dear Eric: Our college-age son began experiencing hair loss back in high…
Ex-'American Idol' contestant staged crime scene in alleged murder of wife: court docs

Family of Woman Allegedly Murdered by Former ‘American Idol’ Contestant Seeks Clarity on Life Insurance Details

The family of a woman allegedly murdered by her husband has enlisted…
Fairfax cops repeatedly warned that illegal migrant was a danger before he hacked mom to death

Fairfax Authorities Ignored Warnings: Illegal Migrant Commits Fatal Attack on Mother

Authorities in a progressive suburb of Washington, DC, repeatedly urged prosecutors to…
54th annual 'Bronx Week' abruptly canceled by borough president, leaving locals outraged

Bronx Week 2023: Sudden Cancellation Sparks Outrage Among Locals – Here’s What Happened

The decision to cancel the 54th annual “Bronx Week” has not been…
As airstrikes rain down on the Iranian regime, can a fractured opposition unite to lead if it falls?

Can Iran’s Fractured Opposition Rise to Power Amid Escalating Airstrikes on the Regime?

As the United States and Israeli air forces persist with powerful military…
Man dies after sneaking into closed section of popular national park

Tragic Incident: Man Fatally Trespasses into Restricted Area of Beloved National Park

A 33-year-old man from Hawaii has died after venturing into a restricted…
GoFundMe for US soldier killed in Iran war raises more than $94K

Heroic U.S. Soldier’s Legacy: GoFundMe Campaign Surpasses $94K Following Tragic Iran Conflict

In a heartfelt show of solidarity, a thousand supporters have come together…
Kamala Harris is secretly milking California taxpayers to guard her book tour — but that could change

Kamala Harris’ Book Tour Security Costs Funded by California Taxpayers Could Face Reassessment

Republican gubernatorial candidate Steve Hilton has pledged to revoke Kamala Harris’ taxpayer-funded…