On Wednesday, Hawaii U.S. District Judge Derrick Watson indefinitely halted President Trump’s revised travel ban. This decision is an extension of the Judge’s temporary restraining order issued on March 15th. President Trump’s revised travel ban sought to prevent citizens of six predominantly Muslim, countries from entering the US. In issuing this order indefinitely suspending the travel ban, Judge Watson reiterated his same reasoning for the initial temporary order and went on to note that Hawaii has shown the state’s tourism industries and universities would suffer monetarily if the revised travel ban were allowed to take effect.
Following the order’s announcement, the Justice Department issued a statement indicating that it will continue to defend the executive order and will likely appeal Judge Watson’s ruling to the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, which previously ruled against President’s initial travel ban. Other cases challenging the ban are in progress elsewhere in the U.S.
As it stands, President Trump’s revised travel ban has been blocked indefinitely nationwide.
EIG will continue to monitor the travel ban litigation and executive orders, providing updates as information becomes available.