A federal judge in Seattle temporarily blocked US President Donald Trump’s executive order banning entry into the United States from seven Muslim-majority countries, The Independent reports.
US District Judge James Robert issued a temporary restraining order against the Trump administration's restrictions, ruling that the ban would be immediately stopped nationwide.
Within hours of the ruling, government officials told airlines in a conference call to begin allowing previously barred passengers to fly. However, the White House issued a statement announcing that the Department of Justice would file an emergency halt of judge's order. Before sending a second, revised statement to the media, the White House called the judge's ruling "outrageous."
While the federal government argues that the ban protects the country from these countries, Judge Robert said he found “no support” for those claims.
New York and Virginia have also taken legal action against the president.
Reacting to the complaint, White House attorneys issued a response brief, claiming that Washington state is unable to challenge the President and his intentions.
“Every President over the last 30 years has invoked this authority to suspend or impose restrictions on the entry of certain aliens or classes of aliens, in some instances including classifications based on nationality,” the brief reads, according to the Seattle Times.
