Supreme Court Upholds Trump’s Islamphobic Travel Ban
by Stephen Lendman (stephenlendman.org – Home – Stephen Lendman)
Trump imposed a travel ban on six predominantly Muslim countries, a presidential proclamation adding two more.
Targeted nations include Chad, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Syria and Yemen, plus North Korea and Venezuela.
None of these countries or their citizens threaten US national security. Trump’s ban targets them for being predominantly Muslim nations ravaged by US aggression and/or for their sovereign independence and opposition to its imperial agenda – no legitimate reasons.
The Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled against the ban because of its “religious intolerance, animus, and discrimination.”
Its chief Judge Roger Gregory added: “Congress granted the President broad power to deny entry to aliens, but that power is not absolute.”
“It cannot go unchecked when, as here, the President wields it through an executive edict that stands to cause irreparable harm to individuals across this nation.”
Law Professor Emeritus Marjorie Cohn argued against the ban, saying:
It “violates the Establishment Clause, the Due Process Clause, the Equal Protection Clause, and the Take Care Clause of the Constitution.”
“It also violates the Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CAT), as well as the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR); both are treaties the United States has ratified, making them part of US law under the Constitution’s Supremacy Clause.”
Law Professor Jonathan Turley disagreed, claiming “case law support(s)” Trump. The High Court voted 7 – 2 in favor of the full ban – Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Sonia Sotomayor the two dissenters.
The Supremes didn’t rule on the ban’s constitutional merits, supporting the administration’s argument that an emergency injunction against it was unnecessary.
The High Court will decide on the merits of the case later on. The Center for Constitutional Rights blasted yesterday’s ruling, saying:
“We will not allow this to become the new normal. Whatever the courts say, the Muslim Ban is inhumane and discriminatory.”
“We must continue to demonstrate that we reject and will resist the politics of fear, anti-Muslim racism, and white supremacy.”
Lower courts ruled that individuals able show a “credible claim of a bona fide relationship with a person or entity in the United States” were excluded from the ban. The High Court’s decision disagreed.
On Monday, the ACLU issued a statement, saying:
“The Supreme Court granted the Trump administration’s request to temporarily allow the latest Muslim ban to take full effect as the case is litigated.”
“Two federal appeals courts will soon hear separate challenges to the ban. The Ninth Circuit will hear Hawaii’s case on Dec. 6, and the Fourth Circuit will hear the challenge brought by the American Civil Liberties Union and partner organizations on Dec. 8.”
ACLU immigrants rights project director Omar Jadwat added:
“President Trump’s anti-Muslim prejudice is no secret. He has repeatedly confirmed it, including just last week on Twitter.”
“It’s unfortunate that the full ban can move forward for now, but this order does not address the merits of our claims.”
“We continue to stand for freedom, equality, and for those who are unfairly being separated from their loved ones. We will be arguing Friday in the Fourth Circuit that the ban should ultimately be struck down.”
Other groups supporting the ACLU’s International Refugee Assistance Project v. Trump include the National Immigration Law Center, the Urban Justice Center’s International Refugee Assistance Project (IRAP), the Yemeni American Merchants Association, the Arab American Association of New York, and numerous individual plaintiffs.
The battle for the rights of refugees, asylum seekers and other immigrants isn’t over.
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