Judge blocks Trump travel ban – Airlines reopen flights to US

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SEATTLE, Feb 4, (Agencies): A federal judge’s order blocking President Donald Trump’s ban on admitting travelers from seven predominantly Muslim countries or any refugees left authorities, advocates, embassies and airlines wondering what to do Saturday.

The White House said it would try to get a court to reinstate the ban that prompted the State Department to cancel visas for 60,000 or more people from the affected countries, causing widespread confusion at airports when some travelers were detained and others sent back. An internal email circulated among Homeland Security officials Friday night told employees to immediately comply with the judge’s ruling. However, the US embassy in Baghdad said Saturday that they’re still awaiting guidance on what to tell Iraqis eager to see if their visa restrictions had changed. “We don’t know what the effect will be, but we’re working to get more information,” the embassy told The Associated Press in a statement.

However, a pair of prominent Middle Eastern air carriers announced they would begin allowing passengers from the seven affected countries. Both Qatar Airways and Etihad Airways, national carrier of the United Arab Emirates, said US-bound passengers from those countries with valid visas would be allowed to travel. In Egypt, Cairo airport and airline officials said they have received instructions from the US Customs and Border Protection to suspend President Trump’s executive order. Government-backed Qatar Airways is one of a handful of Mideast airlines operating direct daily flights to multiple American cities.

Its US destinations from its Doha hub include New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami and Washington. Air France also said it had reopened US-bound flights to passengers affected by Trump’s travel ban. “Starting today we are implementing this court decision,” Air France spokesman Herve Erschler said. “Nationals from the countries concerned are being authorised to fly once again to the United States, providing their papers and visas are in order.” Erschler said American government representatives in Paris had advised local airlines they could resume US-bound services for citizens of Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen. A federal judge in Seattle on Friday suspended Trump’s week-old executive order barring their travel.

The judge’s decision was a victory for Washington and  Minnesota, which had challenged Trump’s directive. US District Judge James Robart in Seattle issued a temporary restraining order, ruling the states had standing. He said they showed their case was likely to succeed. “The state has met its burden in demonstrating immediate and irreparable injury,” Robart said.

The White House has argued that it will make the country safer. Spokesman Sean Spicer released a statement late Friday saying the government “will file an emergency stay of this outrageous order and defend the executive order of the President, which we believe is lawful and appropriate.” Soon after, a revised statement was sent out that removed the word “outrageous.”

“The president’s order is intended to protect the homeland and he has the constitutional authority and responsibility to protect the American people,” the statement said. Trump himself lashed out against the ruling on Twitter. He wrote: “The opinion of this socalled judge, which essentially takes law-enforcement away from our country, is ridiculous and will be overturned!” The president also tweeted that, “when a country is no longer able to say who can and who cannot come in & out, especially for reasons of safety & security — big trouble!”

A State Department official, speaking on condition of anonymity because the matter is under litigation, said Friday: “We are working closely with the Department of Homeland Security and our legal teams to determine how this affects our operations. We will announce any changes affecting travelers to the United States as soon as that information is available.” In their arguments to the court, Washington state and Minnesota said the temporary ban on entry for people from Iran, Iraq, Syria, Sudan, Somalia, Libya and Yemen and the global suspension of the US refugee program significantly harms residents and effectively mandates discrimination.

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