A US federal judge in the state of Hawaii has extended his halt of US President Donald Trump’s new travel ban on nationals from six predominantly Muslim countries.
US District Judge Derrick Watson on Friday converted the temporary restraining order to a preliminary injunction, which can lead to a permanent halt of the travel ban unless the US Supreme Court restore’s it.
On Tuesday, Watson issued a nationwide order blocking the third version of Trump’s controversial travel ban, calling it discriminatory and in breach of immigration law.
Watson’s ruling applies only to the six Muslim-majority countries of Iran, Syria, Yemen, Libya, Somalia and Chad, although the ban, announced in September, also limits travel from Venezuela and North Korea.
A federal judge in Maryland also blocked the travel ban on Wednesday. The Trump administration is expected to appeal the rulings to the Supreme Court.
Trump has said the restrictions are needed…