US court limits Trump's executive order

A US court judge on January 28 ruled to stop deporting refugees under an executive order signed by President Donald Trump on January 27.

Protest against Trump's immigration policy in Chicago - Photo: Reuters

According to the BBC, the ruling by New York federal judge Ann Donnelly came after the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) filed a petition against Mr. Trump’s decree. According to the ACLU, nearly 200 people have been arrested at airports after President Trump’s controversial decree took effect.

Judge Donnelly’s ruling, which takes effect immediately nationwide, bars the deportation of people with valid asylum claims, visas and “other individuals … lawfully admitted to the United States.”

The New York federal court's ruling was supported by protesters who gathered outside the courthouse in Brooklyn, as well as more than 2,000 protesters at John F. Kennedy International Airport. Large-scale protests also took place at major airports in Washington, DC, and cities across the country, such as Chicago, Minneapolis, Los Angeles, San Francisco, etc.

However, according to analysts, the judge's ruling prevents the deportation of those arrested but cannot allow them to enter the US. Therefore, those arrested at airports will continue to be detained until the case is resolved.

The executive order tightening visa policies and accepting refugees into the US, signed by Mr. Trump on January 27, will increase the visa processing time for all refugees to 4 months and temporarily suspend the issuance of visas to the US for 7 countries with a majority Muslim population, including Syria, Iraq, Iran, Somalia, Libya, Sudan and Yemen. The new US President said this measure is to protect the American people from the risk of terrorist attacks.

However, the new US president's move has met with fierce backlash. On January 28, UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said the UN hopes the US leader's measures on refugee admission are temporary because the need to protect refugees has never been greater.

Previously, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) also called on the Trump administration to continue providing shelter to refugees fleeing war and persecution.

Protesters at Dallas airport, USA - Photo: Reuters

According to TTO