US judge blocks latest version of travel ban

WASHINGTON, D.C.: A US federal judge on Tuesday barred the White House from implementing yet another version of President Donald Trump’s controversial executive order on immigration, hours before it was due to go into full effect.

The decision by US District Judge Derrick Watson in Hawaii— which the White House signaled it would appeal—marks the latest blow to Trump’s longrunning efforts to restrict entry of travelers from targeted countries into the United States.

Watson said the third rendition of the travel ban—covering people from six mainly Muslim countries, as well as North Korea and some

In his decision, Watson wrote the ban “suffers from precisely the same maladies as its predecessor: entry of more than 150 million - tries would be ‘detrimental to the interests of the United States.’”

The ruling means the Trump administration could again ask the Supreme Court to decide whether his immigration orders are legal.

The newest order was announced last month to replace an expiring 90-day temporary ban on travelers from the Muslimmajority nations of Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen.

The September decree removed Sudan from the list, but added Chad and North Korea for full -

measure as needed to protect US national security—but critics said it appeared virtually the same as the original order of January 27.

Courts shot that version down saying it targeted Muslims, violating the US constitutional protections for religious freedom.

A second version was only slightly adjusted and was quickly tied up in similar legal wrangling.

But Watson—who also issued —said the order does not improve US security, since individuals who pose risks can already be denied entry under existing law.

The order “plainly discriminates based on nationality” in a manner antithetical to US laws “and the founding principles of this nation,” he wrote.

on travelers from the six countries, but allowed it to be implemented on North Korea —which sent only a handful of people to the United where US sanctions have also already made travel to the United

‘Dangerously flawed’

The White House quickly rejected his argument, calling it “danger

“The entry restrictions in the proclamation apply to countries based on their inability or unwillingness to share critical information necessary to safely vet applications, as well as a threat assessment related to terrorism, instability and other grave national security concerns,” it said.

“We are therefore confident that the judiciary will ultimately uphold the president’s lawful and necessary action and swiftly restore its vital protections for the safety of the American people.”

One of the most controversial changes in the latest version of the White House order was the addition of Chad, whose forces are working with US troops in the battle against Boko Haram extremists.

But the administration appeared to be preparing to back away from

State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert announced that in recent weeks the Chad government had shown a “clear willingness to work closely with us on these issues.”