The Washington Times: A federal judge ordered the Trump administration this week to stop blocking travelers trying to reach the U.S. from seven Muslim-majority countries, delivering the latest and largest blow yet to the president’s extreme vetting policy.
Judge Andre Birotte Jr.’s ruling added yet another level of confusion to an already chaotic situation, as all sides debated who is now allowed to come into the U.S.
The judge issued a temporary restraining order late Tuesday, saying American officials could not block entry to anyone who had a “valid immigrant visa.” Agents have been blocking people from getting onto U.S. flights if they showed passports from any of the countries affected by the temporary travel ban.
“Plaintiffs are likely to suffer irreparable harm,” the judge said in issuing his order.
But it was unclear how much teeth his ruling had, since the State Department provisionally revoked most of the visas in the wake of President Trump’s executive order Friday. That meant it was unclear whether anyone still had a “valid” visa under the judge’s order.
Homeland Security Department officials declined to comment on the ruling, citing the ongoing court case.
