January 27, 2017

Federal courts block Trump's Muslim ban after nationwide airport chaos

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ACLU wins nationwide injunction; travelers stranded at airports worldwide

Executive Order 13769, signed January 27, 2017, banned entry for citizens of Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen for 90 days

Over 700 travelers detained at airports within 24 hours, up to 60,000 visas provisionally revoked by State Department

Washington AG Bob Ferguson filed lawsuit January 30, 2017; Judge James Robart issued nationwide restraining order February 3

Judge Derrick Watson (Hawaii) blocked second travel ban March 15, 2017, citing Trump's own statements as evidence of anti-Muslim animus

Supreme Court upheld third ban 5-4 in Trump v. Hawaii (June 26, 2018) using rational basis review

Order cut 2017 refugee admissions from Obama's 110,000 target to 50,000 cap, indefinitely suspended Syrian refugees

Justice Sotomayor dissent compared ruling to Korematsu internment case: 'redeploys the same dangerous logic'

ACLU filed Darweesh v. Trump within hours of ban; federal court granted nationwide injunction by evening of January 28

People, bills, and sources

Washington State Attorney General

U.S. District Judge, Western District of Washington

U.S. District Judge, District of Hawaii

U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice

U.S. Supreme Court Associate Justice

Iraqi interpreter for U.S. military, lead plaintiff in ACLU lawsuit

Civil rights litigators, filed Darweesh v. Trump

President of the United States (2017-2021)

Track your state AG's litigation docket at [state].gov/ago; AGs are elected in 43 states, appointees in 7

When courts use 'rational basis review' in rights cases, recognize government only needs plausible justification to win

Document public statements by officials—courts sometimes consider them, but Supreme Court may ignore them as here

Find legal aid clinics via LawHelp.org/find-help or call ACLU hotline if constitutional rights threatened