Trump’s edict on last legs

AN American court has unanimously refused to reinstate Donald Trump’s ban on refugees and nationals from seven Muslim-majority countries, dealing the new president and his controversial law-and-order agenda a major defeat.

The ruling from the Federal Appeals Court in San Francisco capped a turbulent first three weeks of his presidency.

A defiant Mr Trump quickly pledged to battle on, tweeting within minutes of the decision: “SEE YOU IN COURT, THE SECURITY OF OUR NATION IS AT STAKE!”

The three-judge panel maintained the suspension ordered by a federal judge in Seattle.

“We hold that the government has not shown a likelihood of success on the merits of its appeal, nor has it shown that failure to enter a stay would cause irreparable injury,” the judges ruled.

Critics say the measure targeted Muslims in violation of US law. Now, the case could end up in the Supreme Court.

The court in San Francisco said aspects of the public interest favoured both sides, high- lighting the “massive attention” the case had drawn.

His administration has 14 days to file a petition for reconsideration, either by the same panel or “en banc” – meaning by every judge on the court.

Another option would be to ask the Supreme Court to review the case, although some analysts have argued that this path poses the possibility of an embarrassing defeat, given the unanimity of the San Francisco panel, which included a Republican-appointed judge.