Trump can reinstate part of his travel ban

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration expects to launch a limited version of its travel ban on six mostly Muslim countries today, but has yet to say how it will be implemented or what it will do to avoid the chaos that accompanied the initial ban.

Government lawyers were working on guidelines Tuesday, one day after the Supreme Court partially reinstated the ban ahead of hearing arguments in October.

The court said the administration can block travellers from Syria, Sudan, Somalia, Libya, Iran and Yemen unless they can prove a “bona fide relationship” with a person or entity in the United States.

The court offered only broad guidelines about what would constitute such a relationship — suggesting it would include a close relative, a job offer or an invitation to lecture.

The court ordered similar limitations on President Donald Trump’s plan to temporarily halt all refugee admissions. But that may have minimal effect for now. Of the 50,000 refugees the government planned to accept in the current budget year, more than 48,900 have been allowed to enter the U.S.

The State Department has said the few remaining refugees to be admitted this year will not have to prove a “bona fide relationship.” A new cap won't be in place until the start of the budget year in October, around the time that the Supreme Court considers the case.

Trump ordered the refugee ban and a travel ban affecting the six countries, plus Iraq, shortly after taking office in January. He claimed it was needed to protect the U.S. from terrorists, but opponents said it was unfairly harsh and was intended to meet Trump’s campaign promise of keeping Muslims out of the United States.

After a federal judge struck down the bans, Trump signed a revised order that was also struck down by lower courts. The Supreme Court’s action Monday partially reinstated the effort.