Somali refugees trapped in Nairobi can now travel to the US as court suspend Trump’s “Muslim ban”

Somali refugees boarding a flight to Somalia. A US federal judge has suspended Trump’s ban on nationals from seven Muslim majority nations. Photo/COURTESY

NAIROBI—Somali refugees trapped in Nairobi have a reason to smile after a federal judge in Seattle ordered a temporary halt on Donald Trump’s travel ban for refugees and people from seven predominantly-Muslim nations.

The temporary ban was placed on Sudan, Libya, Syria, Iraq, Iran, Yemen and Somalia . The news came as a reprieve to the over 300 Somali refugees that were set to fly to the United States within the 90-day temporary ban.

District judge James Robart granted a temporary restraining order on Friday after hearing arguments from Washington State and Minnesota that the president’s order had unlawfully discriminated against Muslims and caused unreasonable harm.

“The decision shuts down the executive order immediately,” Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson said in a news conference outside the courthouse after US District Judge James Robart issued his ruling in the lawsuit, brought by Ferguson on behalf of the state.

“No one is above the law — not even the President,” Ferguson said.

“It’s a wonderful day for the rule of law in this country,” said Washington state solicitor general Noah Purcell.

It was not clear to the customs agents at airports across the world whether to affect the court decision immediately.

The White House vowed late Friday to fight what it called an “outrageous” ruling, saying it would seek an emergency halt to the judge’s order as soon as possible and restore the president’s “lawful and appropriate order.”

“The president’s order is intended to protect the homeland and he has the constitutional authority and responsibility to protect the American people,” the White House said. A revised statement released later omitted the word “outrageous”, the New York Times reported.

In a statement, the state department said it did not immediately know how to comply. “We are working closely with the Dept of Homeland Security and our legal teams to determine how this affects our operations.” A DHS spokeswoman said that the agency would not comment: “As a matter of policy, we do not comment on pending litigation.”