Donald Trump's immigration order hits roadblock, court rules those with visas can stay in US

Updated January 29, 2017 15:27:41

Video: Activists protest Trump's 'racist, unconstitutional' ban on Muslim-majority nationals entering the US (ABC News)

President Donald Trump's order to restrict people from seven Muslim-majority countries from entering the United States sparked outrage but hit a roadblock when a federal judge said stranded travellers could stay in the country.

The emergency court ruling was cheered at Boston's Logan International Airport, one of several major US airports where protesters angry with Mr Trump's order gathered.

The ruling, by Judge Ann Donnelly of a US District Court in New York, was a dramatic end to Mr Trump's first week in office, capped by the Republican President's four-month ban on refugees entering the US and a 90-day hold on travellers from Syria and six other countries.

Mr Trump had promised during his campaign what he called "extreme vetting" of immigrants and refugees to try to prevent terror attacks.

The White House could not be immediately reached for comment on the emergency court ruling.

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), which brought the case, estimates the ruling will affect between 100 and 200 people who are currently either in transit or detained at airports.

As of Saturday night (local time) US Customs and Border Protection had denied more than 170 people entry to the country.

Senior officials at the US Department of Homeland Security told reporters they had not seen the ruling, but said the Government would implement any appropriate orders.

The ban also applies to airline flight crew, the International Air Transport Association said in an email to carriers around the world.

The email, seen by Reuters, said Friday's executive order from Mr Trump caught airlines unprepared.

US Customs and Border Protection briefed IATA about the new rules, the email said, noting that passport-holders from states such as Iran, including cabin crew, will be barred entry to the US.

Video: Trump says America should have had 'extreme vetting' for many years (ABC News)

"There's nothing that ISIS want more than to be able to say to Muslims around the world, 'look, we're the people who'll protect you, America will never give you haven'."

Immigrants rights attorney Lee Gelernt said those affected by the judge's order "will not be returned back to danger".

"The judge in a nutshell saw through what the Government was doing," he said as he came out of court.

ALCU executive director Anthony D Romero added: "Our courts today worked as they should as bulwarks against government abuse or unconstitutional policies and orders."

Dreams of better life crushed

Syrian refugee Ammar Sawan describes Donald Trump's entry ban as a bolt of lightning in which his "hopes and dreams vanished".

Mr Trump earlier told reporters in the White House's Oval Office that his order was "not a Muslim ban" and said the measures were long overdue.

"It's working out very nicely. You see it at the airports, you see it all over," Mr Trump said.

International Rescue Committee president David Miliband said Mr Trump's immigration order plays into the hands of the Islamic State group.

"The propaganda gift of this is to people who would do damage to the United States," he said.

The order put a four-month hold on allowing refugees into the US and also extends to green card holders who are granted authorisation to live and work in the US.

It has prompted fury from Arab travellers in the Middle East and North Africa who said it was humiliating and discriminatory, while drawing widespread criticism from US Western allies including France and Germany, Arab American groups, and human rights organisations.

Iran said it would stop US citizens from entering the country in retaliation for the ban.

ABC/Reuters

Topics: world-politics, law-crime-and-justice, immigration, united-states

First posted January 29, 2017 13:15:37