Judge halts Trump order on refugees amid outcry

Washington, Sunday

An American judge has issued a temporary halt to the deportation of visa holders or refugees stranded at airports after President Donald Trump issued order barring entry to them for 90 days.

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) filed a case in response to the order issued on Friday. It estimates that up to 200 people are being held at airports or in transit.

Thousands of people have been protesting at US airports over Trump’s clampdown on immigration. His executive order halted the entire US refugee programme and also instituted a 90-day travel ban for nationals from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen.

Those who were already mid-flight were detained on arrival — even if they held valid US visas or other immigration permits. On Saturday, amid protests and court challenges, Trump told reporters: “It’s working out very nicely. You see it at the airports, you see it all over.”

Other executive orders issued by Trump on Saturday were: A ban on administration officials ever lobbying on behalf of a foreign government, an order to Defence Secretary Jim Mattis to come up with a plan within 30 days to defeat so-called Islamic State and restructuring the National Security Council with a key role for Steve Bannon, the former right-wing media executive who is now Trump’s top strategist.

The ruling from federal Judge Ann Donnelly, in New York, prevented the removal from the US of people with approved refugee applications, valid visas, and “other individuals... legally authorised to enter the United States”.

The emergency ruling also said there was a risk of “substantial and irreparable injury” to those affected. Her ruling is not on the constitutionality of Trump’s executive order.

What will happen to those still held at airports remains unclear. In its response, the Department of Homeland Security said it would continue to enforce the measures that on Saturday had affected “less than one per cent of the more than 325,000 international air travellers who arrive every day”.

It added that the US government “retains its right to revoke visas at any time if required for national security or public safety”. “The feeling of injustice is so big, and this ban is so demeaning! Shame!” — Syrian scientist working on skin cancer research and living in Germany who now finds she cannot travel to Philadelphia in February to visit colleagues.

“Dreams shattered” — cardiology fellow from Jordan whose Syrian wife’s family cannot come to visit in the US. “We may try our chances with other countries” - Iranian professional in Washington DC, whose wife is now stuck in Iran. - BBC

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