US President Donald Trump’s travel ban on refugees was suspended on Friday after Seattle federal judge James Robart issued a restraining order against the immigration restrictions.
For a second day in a row, Trump took to Twitter to blast federal courts, accusing them of putting the lives of the American people in danger.
Travellers from the seven countries on the list can now enter the US, with the State Department announcing that it was reversing the cancellation of almost 60,000 visas.
A leading Democratic senator, Patrick Leahy of Vermont, said Trump seemed "intent on precipitating a constitutional crisis."
Early on Sunday, a US appeals court rejected an urgent government request to reinstate Trump's controversial ban.
Also Read: Donald Trump’s Muslim Refugee Ban Explained
Trump Lambasts Judge Robart
Trump slammed judge Robart, who was appointed by former US President George W Bush, for reversing the ban which banned travellers – from Iraq, Syria, Iran, Sudan, Libya, Somalia and Yemen – from entering the US for 90 days.
“Bad People Are Happy”
Ban Temporarily Suspended
In a joint statement, US immigration advocacy groups urged those with now valid visas from the seven nations "to consider rebooking travel to the United States immediately" because the ruling could be overturned or put on hold.
A US State Department email reviewed by Reuters said the department is working to begin admitting refugees including Syrians as soon as Monday.
People with visas that were not physically cancelled may now travel if the visa is otherwise valid, a State Department official told Efe news agency.
Meanwhile, travellers were reportedly harassed at the Los Angeles International Airport as protesters blocked exits after Judge Robart’s ruling.
(With inputs from Reuters, IANS, PTI)
Also Read: Republican Hindu Coalition, Adityanath Cheer Trump’s “Muslim Ban” Dev Patel Calls Trump’s ‘Muslim Ban’ “Horrible” and “Divisive”
(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)