Updated February 04, 2017 11:37:46
An US federal judge in Seattle has granted a nationwide temporary restraining order blocking President Donald Trump's recent action barring nationals from seven countries from entering the United States.
The judge's order represents a major challenge to the Trump administration, which is expected to immediately appeal. The judge declined to stay the order, suggesting that travel restrictions could be lifted immediately.
The challenge was brought by the state of Washington and later joined by the state of Minnesota.
The Seattle judge ruled that the states have legal standing to sue, which could help Democratic attorneys-general take on Mr Trump in court on issues beyond immigration.
"It's a wonderful day for the rule of law in this country," said Washington state solicitor general Noah Purcell.
The decision came on a day that attorneys in four states were in courts challenging Mr Trump's executive order.
Mr Trump's administration justified the action on national security grounds, but opponents labelled it an unconstitutional order targeting people based on religious beliefs.
60,000 visas revoked as a result of order
The State Department said earlier in the day that fewer than 60,000 visas previously issued to citizens of Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen had been invalidated as a result of the order.
"A provisional revocation means the Department of State has invalidated a visa for use to travel to the United States and apply for entry, but may restore the visa's validity at a subsequent time without requiring the traveller to submit a new visa application," said William Cocks, a spokesman for consular affairs at the State Department.
"We will communicate updates to affected travellers following the 90-day review," he added.
Earlier, a federal judge in Boston declined to extend a temporary restraining order that allowed some immigrants into the United States from certain countries despite being barred by the recent executive order.
US District Judge Leonie Brinkema in Alexandria, Virginia ordered the Federal Government to give the state a list by next Thursday (local time) of "all persons who have been denied entry to or removed from the United States".
The state of Hawaii on joined the challenge to the order, filing a lawsuit alleging that the order was unconstitutional and asking the court to block the order across the country.
The new Republican President's order, signed on January 27, triggered chaos at US airports last weekend. Some travellers abroad were turned back from flights into the US, and crowds of protesters packed into arrival areas to protest.
The order also temporarily stopped the entry of all refugees into the country and indefinitely halted the settlement of Syrian refugees.
On Friday the Department of Homeland Security issued additional clarification of the order, stating that there were no plans to extend it beyond the seven countries.
The DHS also reiterated that the ban did not apply to permanent residents, or green card holders, and some others, such as those who had helped the US military.
In the Boston case, US District Judge Nathan Gorton denied the request, after expressing scepticism during oral arguments about a civil rights group's claim that Mr Trump's order represented religious discrimination.
Reuters/AP
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First posted February 04, 2017 11:25:05
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