Judge Suspends in part the Trump Ban on Refugees

SEATTLE (Conspiracy Talk News) – A federal judge partially suspended a ban on Donald Trump’s government on Saturday for certain refugees to enter the United States, after two groups argued that the policy prevents people from some Muslim nations from reuniting with relatives who are legally in the country.

US District Judge James Robart heard arguments Thursday in lawsuits from the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and the Jewish Family Service, which say that such a ban causes harm irreparable and puts some people at risk. Government lawyers argue that the measure is necessary to protect national security.

Robart ordered the federal government to give due process to certain refugee applications, but also indicated that its guideline does not apply to people who lack a “verifiable relationship” with a person or entity in the United States.

Trump resumed the refugee program in October “with greater verification capabilities.”

A day before he issued that executive order, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, the interim secretary of National Security, Elaine Duke, and the director of National Intelligence, Daniel Coats, sent a memorandum to the president in which they affirm that they should not prohibit the entry of certain refugees unless additional security measures are implemented.

It applies to spouses and small children of refugees who have already settled in the United States, and suspends the refugee program for people from 11 countries, nine of whom are Muslims.

In his decision, Robart wrote that “former officials confirm  in detail how the Agencies Memo will harm the interests of national security and foreign policy of the United States.”

Robart said his order re-establishes procedures for refugees in the programs at the level they were in before the law, and noted that this already includes a very extensive verification of each individual.

The ACLU argued that the memo does not provide evidence of why additional security is required, nor does it specify a time frame for implementing the changes.

The groups say that the process to enforce the policy violates a federal law.

August Flentje, attorney for the Justice Department, told the judge that the ban is temporary and “is a reasonable and adequate way for agency directors to address the gaps” in the review process.

The demands of the two groups were consolidated into a collective civil action and represent refugees who have been prevented from entering the country.

The post Judge Suspends in part the Trump Ban on Refugees appeared first on Conspiracy Talk News.

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