Hawaii judge halts Trump's new travel ban before it can go into effect | ABS-CBN

ADVERTISEMENT

Overseas

Hawaii judge halts Trump's new travel ban before it can go into effect

Hawaii judge halts Trump's new travel ban before it can go into effect

Dan Levine and Mica Rosenberg,

Reuters

Clipboard

US President Donald Trump attends a meeting with US House Deputy Whip team at the East room of the White House in Washington, March 7, 2017. Carlos Barria, Reuters

HONOLULU/NEW YORK - A US federal judge in Hawaii dealt another legal blow to President Donald Trump on Wednesday, issuing an emergency halt to his revised travel ban just hours before it was set to go into effect early on Thursday.

US District Judge Derrick Watson put out an emergency stop on Trump's executive order, which aimed to temporarily bar entry to the United States of most refugees as well as travelers from six Muslim-majority countries.

Watson said the state of Hawaii showed a strong likelihood of success in its claims that the order violates the establishment clause of the US Constitution, which prevents religious discrimination. Critics of the ban argued it was discriminatory against Muslims.

The Republican president has said the policy is critical for national security.

ADVERTISEMENT

Hawaii Attorney General Douglas Chin (L) arrives at the US District Court Ninth Circuit to present his arguments after filing an amended lawsuit against President Donald Trump's new travel ban in Honolulu, Hawaii, Wednesday. Hugh Gentry, Reuters

The case was one of several that were moving through US courts on Wednesday brought by states' attorneys general and immigrant advocacy groups.

Trump's first travel order signed on Jan. 27, which was more sweeping than the second revised order signed on March 6, was also halted by a federal judge.

White House spokesman Sean Spicer, asked about the judge's order, did not comment.

(Reporting by Dan Levine in Honolulu and Ian Simpson in Greenbelt, Md. Additional reporting by Mica Rosenberg and Jonathan Allen in New York; Writing by Mica Rosenberg; Editing by Peter Cooney and Jonathan Oatis)

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

ABS-CBN is the leading media and entertainment company in the Philippines, offering quality content across TV, radio, digital, and film. Committed to public service and promoting Filipino values, ABS-CBN continues to inspire and connect audiences worldwide.

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.