US court partially reinstates travel ban

WASHINGTON: The US Supreme Court on Monday partially reinstated Donald Trump’s controversial travel ban targeting citizens from six predominantly Muslim countries, prompting the president to claim a victory for national security.

The nine justices, who will hear arguments in the case in October, said the ban could now be enforced for travellers from the targeted countries “who lack any bona fide relationship with a person or entity in the United States”.

The court tempered its ruling by saying the ban could not be implemented against people who have personal links to the US, citing the examples of foreign nationals wishing to visit family or students accepted to attend university.

But the decision nonetheless marks a win for the Republican leader, who has insisted the ban is necessary for national security, despite criticism that it singles out Muslims in violation of the US constitution.

The State Department said it would begin enforcing the travel ban “in a professional, organised and timely way” within 72 hours, in line with a memorandum signed by Trump earlier this month.

The US leader has suffered a series of judicial defeats over the ban, with two federal appeals courts maintaining injunctions on it by arguing that his executive order discriminated against travellers based on their nationality.

Reacting to Monday’s ruling, Trump said he felt vindicated by what he called “a clear victory for our national security.”

“As president, I cannot allow people into our country who want to do us harm.”

On Twitter, he later added: “Great day for America’s future Security and Safety, courtesy of the US Supreme Court. I will keep fighting for the American people, & WIN!”

Trump’s initial executive order – handed down without warning a week after he took office in January – triggered mayhem at airports in the United States and abroad until it was blocked by the courts less than a week later.

But rights group said they did not expect chaos this time around.

The State Department vowed to keep travellers and travel industry partners informed as it implements the order, and to keep the US Refugee Admissions Program “apprised of changes as they take effect”.

Trump’s revised measure, announced in March, seeks to bar from US entry travellers from Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen for 90 days, as well as suspend the entry of refugees for 120 days.

The original measure included Iraq and an indefinite ban on Syrian refugees. – AFP