US customs officers 'ignore' judge's ruling on Muslim ban
Agents at US airports are reportedly ignoring a ruling by district judge Anne Donnelly that parts of Donald Trump's Muslim ban were illegal.
3 min read
A large crowd of people protested against the ban outside JFK airport, Saturday [Anadolu]
Customs agents in US airports are reportedly ignoring a US legal ruling that orders officers not to enforce parts of President Donald Trump's Muslim ban.
The American Civil Liberties Union, which has been fighting for Muslims held in US airports, declared they were getting "multiple reports" on Sunday morning that the ruling by federal judges was not being followed.
Agents at US airports were continuing to detain travellers from seven banned Muslim majority countries - including Syria, Iraq and Iran - on Sunday morning, the civil rights group said.
The American Civil Liberties Union, which has been fighting for Muslims held in US airports, declared they were getting "multiple reports" on Sunday morning that the ruling by federal judges was not being followed.
Agents at US airports were continuing to detain travellers from seven banned Muslim majority countries - including Syria, Iraq and Iran - on Sunday morning, the civil rights group said.
It comes after a federal judge blocked part of the ban on entry to passport holders of the seven countries, including green card holders and dual-nationalities.
The ruling by District Judge Ann Donnelly ordered authorities to stop deporting refugees and free travelers held at US airports.
There were signs that some of those held were being released including a former Iraqi translator for the US army.
Civil rights groups welcomes the ruling.
"Victory!!!!!!" the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)", whose lawyers sued the government, tweeted after US judge issued her decision.
"Our courts today worked as they should as bulwarks against government abuse or unconstitutional policies and orders."
Trump's sweeping executive order, signed Friday, suspends the arrival of refugees for at least 120 days and bars visas for travelers from seven Muslim majority countries for the next three months.
Large protests have been held at major airports across the country against the ban.
At New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport, some of the 2,000 demonstrators there chanted "Let them in, let them in!"
Large protests took place at the main airports for Washington, Chicago, Minneapolis, Denver, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Dallas.
Donnelly's decision to issue a temporary stay - which stopped short of ruling on the constitutionality of Trump's order - came after dozens of people were detained at US airports following Trump's actions.
The exact number of those affected is unclear, but the judge ordered the government to provide lists of all those detained at US airports since the measure went into effect.
Sending those travelers back to their home countries following Trump's order exposes them to "substantial and irreparable injury", wrote Donnelly, who was appointed by Trump's Democratic predecessor Barack Obama.
A second federal judge in Virginia also issued a temporary order restricting immigration authorities for seven days from deporting legal permanent residents detained at Dulles Airport just outside Washington, according to US media.
The ruling by District Judge Ann Donnelly ordered authorities to stop deporting refugees and free travelers held at US airports.
There were signs that some of those held were being released including a former Iraqi translator for the US army.
Civil rights groups welcomes the ruling.
"Victory!!!!!!" the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)", whose lawyers sued the government, tweeted after US judge issued her decision.
"Our courts today worked as they should as bulwarks against government abuse or unconstitutional policies and orders."
| Read also: The Muslim Ban - What you need to know |
Trump's sweeping executive order, signed Friday, suspends the arrival of refugees for at least 120 days and bars visas for travelers from seven Muslim majority countries for the next three months.
Large protests have been held at major airports across the country against the ban.
At New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport, some of the 2,000 demonstrators there chanted "Let them in, let them in!"
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Large protests took place at the main airports for Washington, Chicago, Minneapolis, Denver, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Dallas.
Donnelly's decision to issue a temporary stay - which stopped short of ruling on the constitutionality of Trump's order - came after dozens of people were detained at US airports following Trump's actions.
The exact number of those affected is unclear, but the judge ordered the government to provide lists of all those detained at US airports since the measure went into effect.
Sending those travelers back to their home countries following Trump's order exposes them to "substantial and irreparable injury", wrote Donnelly, who was appointed by Trump's Democratic predecessor Barack Obama.
A second federal judge in Virginia also issued a temporary order restricting immigration authorities for seven days from deporting legal permanent residents detained at Dulles Airport just outside Washington, according to US media.
Lawyers had been offering their services for those being held pro bono, while crowds said they would continue to pressure Trump to change the ruling.
"We knew that was coming - we were prepared," said Camille Mackler, a lawyer who heads legal initiatives at the New York Immigration Coalition, one of the groups that quickly mounted the demonstration there.
"But we didn't know when, and we couldn't believe it would be immediate, that there'd be people in an airplane the moment the order was taking effect."
The List Project, which helps Iraqis whose personal safety is threatened because they have worked for the US, expressed outraged over the move, warning it put American lives at risk too.
"I can't say this in blunt-enough terms: you can't screw over the people that risked their lives and bled for this country without consequences," wrote the project's founder and director Kirk Johnson.
Politicians from the rival Democratic Party have also sought to challenge the ruling, and some joined protesters in US airports.
Agencies contributed to this story.
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