US appeals court mulls ruling on Trump travel ban

World Today

US appeals court mulls ruling on Trump travel ban

A panel of three U.S. federal judges is deciding the fate of President Trump’s temporary travel ban. The president said he followed Tuesday’s hearing and called on the judges to “do what’s right”, and reinstate his executive order.

CGTN’s Sean Callebs reports.

Trump argued the U.S. desperately needs the travel ban to protect against a terrorist attack. He was openly frustrated that attorneys for the states of Washington and Minnesota have so far been able to block his push to keep immigrants from seven mostly Muslim nations and refugees from Syria from coming to the U.S.

Legal experts said the judges appeared skeptical of the Trump administration’s arguments. And much of the back and forth focused on whether the ban is simply a thinly-veiled effort to keep Muslims from entering the United States.

Trump’s executive order was issued on Jan. 27 and instantly led to chaos at U.S. airports. They were followed by widespread condemnation at home and abroad.

But, the U.S. president — less than three weeks into his term — was convinced the law is on his side and that his order was for the safety of the U.S.

In talking about the confusion his mandate created, the president said he acted quickly to “keep potential threats from ‘pouring’ into the United States”, even if the administration loses in federal appeals court, Trump can take his fight to the next level the U.S. supreme court.