White House Immigration Ban Promises Constitutional Showdown
- Order ‘nationality ban and de facto religion ban,’scholar says
- Others say order isn’t Muslim ban, predict courts back Trump
Trump Defends Travel Ban, Focuses on Regulations
Did President Donald Trump’s executive order on immigration ban Muslims from the country on the basis of their religion? That will be a central question when federal judges dig more deeply into the constitutionality of the order, signed on Jan. 27. If the answer is yes, it appears vulnerable to a First Amendment challenge.
So far, four U.S. district judges -- in Brooklyn, New York; Boston; Alexandria, Virginia; and Seattle -- have issued temporary rulings blocking aspects of the order. These provisional, hastily granted judicial rulings didn’t delve into deep constitutional issues. Instead, they sought to prevent deportations or other government actions that would harm individuals affected by it.