Supreme Court to Review Travel Ban, Allows Partial Implementation

 

People protest against President Donald Trump's travel ban outside the U.S. Customs and Border Protection office in Washington on March 7. File Photo by Erin Schaff/UPI

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June 26 (UPI) -- The U.S. Supreme Court announced Monday it will review the case involving the Trump administration's temporary travel ban on people coming from six predominantly Muslim countries.

The announcement came on the final day of the court's term before the summer break. Oral arguments in the case will be heard in October.

The court allowed the administration to implement part of the ban and said it would review the lower court rulings.

In a 13-page opinion, the court narrowed the scope of the ban, saying it was not enforceable against those with a legitimate relationship with someone of some organization in the United States. Travelers could see the allowed restrictions within three days. President Donald Trump directed administration officials to implement his executive order within 72 hours after the court gives its approval.

Trump issued a statement saying he viewed the Supreme Court decision as a victory.

"My number one responsibility as commander in chief is to keep the American people safe," he said. "Today's ruling allows me to use an important tool for protecting our Nation's homeland. I am also particularly gratified that the Supreme Court's decision was 9-0."

A revised executive order issued in March by Trump limited travel from Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen for 90 days. It also suspended U.S. refugee programs for 120 days. Two federal appeals courts have since rejected portions of the order.

The U.S. Court of Appeals in Richmond, Va., ruled in May that the travel ban violated the First Amendment's ban on government establishment of religion. It relied on Trump's campaign statements calling for a "Muslim ban."

On June 12, the U.S. Court of Appeals in San Francisco blocked, for the second time in four months, portions of the order pertaining to the limits on travel and the suspension of the refugee program. It ruled that Trump exceeded authority granted him by the U.S. Congress and said, "The order does not offer a sufficient justification to suspend the entry of more than 180 million people on the basis of nationality."

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