Hawaii takes on ‘Muslim Ban 2.0’

First US state to file suit against Trump’s amended executive order

Washington, March 9: Hawaii has become the first US state to file suit against President Donald Trump’s amended travel order banning entry of people from six mainly Muslim countries and suspending refugee resettlement. Its attorney general says the new version is fundamentally the same as the first calling it “Muslim Ban 2.0”.

“Hawaii attorney general Doug Chin announced today that the state of Hawaii has filed a motion for a temporary restraining order in its federal lawsuit against President Donald Trump following the new executive order banning travel from six Muslim-majority nations issued earlier this week,” according to a statement from Chin’s office.

Chin argued late on Wednesday that while the new order features changes to address complaints raised by courts that blocked the first travel ban, the new order is pretty much the same as the first one. The far-flung Pacific state is seeking a nationwide restraining order blocking implementation of the order.

The new order suspends refugee admissions for 120 days and halts the granting of new visas for travelers from Syria, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Yemen and Sudan. It explicitly exempts Iraqis, who were on the first list, and legal permanent residents and valid visa holders. “Nothing of substance has changed: there is the same blanket ban on entry from Muslim-majority countries (minus one),” Chin said.

Trump’s first order sparked a legal, political and logistical furor.

There was chaos at major airports and mass protests while several district courts moved to block its implementation and lawmakers expressed opposition. The troubled rollout also dominated the first weeks of the new administration leaving many with the impression that it was badly planned and badly implemented.

Polls show American public opinion is deeply divided on the issue. Most indicate a slight majority of voters opposed with strong support among Trump’s political base. The Republican President criticised a court order suspending the ban as “a very bad decision, very bad for the safety and security of our country. The rollout was perfect”.