Trump bitchslapped!!!
Posted: Sat Jan 28, 2017 9:07 pm
NEW YORK—A judge has blocked the federal government from deporting citizens of seven countries who were detained at U.S. airports over the past day or so as a result of an executive order President Donald Trump issued Friday.
Advocates said 100-200 travelers from those Muslim-majority countries were being held at various airports around the U.S. as a result of Trump’s order, which was billed as an anti-terrorism measure. The detentions sparked protests outside many international airports, including John F. Kennedy Airport in New York and Dulles Airport outside Washington.
U.S. District Court Judge Ann Donnelly issued her injunction over the government’s objection during an emergency hearing Saturday night as several hundred people opposed to Trump's order chanted and milled about outside the Brooklyn, N.Y., federal courthouse.
During the brief court session, the judge said it was difficult to see the harm in allowing the newly arrived immigrants to stay since they were being routinely admitted just a couple of days ago.
"If they had come in two days ago, we wouldn't be here, am I right? ... These are all people who have been through a vetting process," the judge said.
"Explain to me how these petitioners won't suffer irreparable damage if I don't grant this stay?" Donnelly asked.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Susan Riley complained that the court proceeding was unduly rushed. "This has unfolded with such speed, we haven't had an opportunity to address any of the important legal issues," Riley said.
However, American Civil Liberties Union lawyer Lee Gelernt said the immigrants affected were essentially the victims of bad timing that caused them to be caught in limbo just as Trump's order was being issued.
"These people were caught in transit," Gelernt said. "The government is putting someone back on a plane to Syria now."
Donnelly, an appointee of President Barack Obama, said she was freezing the status quo by blocking the deportations.
"The whole point of this hearing is to preserve the status quo. I don't think it's unduly burdensome to identify people we are talking about here," the judge declared. "Nobody is to be removed in this class."
The White House had no immediate comment on the legal setback for one of the new president's signature policy moves. Justice Department spokespeople did not immediately indicate whether an appeal was planned.
Donnelly's order does not appear to interfere with most of Trump's directive, since the judge only moved to protect a limited number of individuals who were already on or were about to board flights to the U.S. when Trump signed his measure. Now, such travelers will likely be blocked from boarding flights in the first place.
Two other judges also stepped into the legal fray over the implementation of Trump’s executive order Saturday night. A federal judge in Alexandria, Va., issued an order barring the deportation of all green card holders being detained at Dulles Airport for 7 days. Judge Leonie Brinkema’s order also required that Customs and Border Protection grant lawyers access to those individuals.
"Department of Homeland Security officials are refusing to allow lawyers to talk with the detained people, who are legal permanent residents, even though the judge’s order requires the government to permit lawyer access,” one of the attorneys involved, Andrew Pincus, said later Saturday night.
In addition, a federal judge in Seattle blocked the deportation of two immigrants from the airport there until a hearing set for Friday.
The legal battle is now expected to move to a series of individual cases filed in New York, Chicago and elsewhere Saturday, where immigrants will be seeking to be released from detention to travel or settle in the U.S.
Advocates said 100-200 travelers from those Muslim-majority countries were being held at various airports around the U.S. as a result of Trump’s order, which was billed as an anti-terrorism measure. The detentions sparked protests outside many international airports, including John F. Kennedy Airport in New York and Dulles Airport outside Washington.
U.S. District Court Judge Ann Donnelly issued her injunction over the government’s objection during an emergency hearing Saturday night as several hundred people opposed to Trump's order chanted and milled about outside the Brooklyn, N.Y., federal courthouse.
During the brief court session, the judge said it was difficult to see the harm in allowing the newly arrived immigrants to stay since they were being routinely admitted just a couple of days ago.
"If they had come in two days ago, we wouldn't be here, am I right? ... These are all people who have been through a vetting process," the judge said.
"Explain to me how these petitioners won't suffer irreparable damage if I don't grant this stay?" Donnelly asked.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Susan Riley complained that the court proceeding was unduly rushed. "This has unfolded with such speed, we haven't had an opportunity to address any of the important legal issues," Riley said.
However, American Civil Liberties Union lawyer Lee Gelernt said the immigrants affected were essentially the victims of bad timing that caused them to be caught in limbo just as Trump's order was being issued.
"These people were caught in transit," Gelernt said. "The government is putting someone back on a plane to Syria now."
Donnelly, an appointee of President Barack Obama, said she was freezing the status quo by blocking the deportations.
"The whole point of this hearing is to preserve the status quo. I don't think it's unduly burdensome to identify people we are talking about here," the judge declared. "Nobody is to be removed in this class."
The White House had no immediate comment on the legal setback for one of the new president's signature policy moves. Justice Department spokespeople did not immediately indicate whether an appeal was planned.
Donnelly's order does not appear to interfere with most of Trump's directive, since the judge only moved to protect a limited number of individuals who were already on or were about to board flights to the U.S. when Trump signed his measure. Now, such travelers will likely be blocked from boarding flights in the first place.
Two other judges also stepped into the legal fray over the implementation of Trump’s executive order Saturday night. A federal judge in Alexandria, Va., issued an order barring the deportation of all green card holders being detained at Dulles Airport for 7 days. Judge Leonie Brinkema’s order also required that Customs and Border Protection grant lawyers access to those individuals.
"Department of Homeland Security officials are refusing to allow lawyers to talk with the detained people, who are legal permanent residents, even though the judge’s order requires the government to permit lawyer access,” one of the attorneys involved, Andrew Pincus, said later Saturday night.
In addition, a federal judge in Seattle blocked the deportation of two immigrants from the airport there until a hearing set for Friday.
The legal battle is now expected to move to a series of individual cases filed in New York, Chicago and elsewhere Saturday, where immigrants will be seeking to be released from detention to travel or settle in the U.S.
