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Judge Who Blocked The First Travel Ban Won't Block The Second ... Yet

The Seattle judge who blocked the Trump administration's first travel ban requires that a new motion be filed before he rules on the second.

By: Jake Jones

Posted at 12:15 PM, Mar 11, 2017

and last updated 2017-03-11 12:15:19-05

A U.S. judge will not issue an emergency order to halt the Trump administration's second travel ban — at least for now.

Seven states are challenging the travel ban in court: Oregon, Washington, Minnesota, New York, Massachusetts, Maryland and Hawaii.

U.S. District Judge James Robart, who issued a restraining order on the first ban, declined to extend that order to cover the second. He said before he can rule on the issue, a new complaint or motion would have to be filed.

Robart is a holdover from the George W. Bush administration. He was nominated to his judgeship in 2003.

The second travel ban is more narrowly written than the first; six of the seven original Muslim-majority countries are included. Iraq was omitted after it agreed to increase visa screenings and data sharing.

And while the ban still temporarily suspends the U.S. refugee program, it no longer bars Syrian refugees indefinitely.

The new travel ban is set to take effect March 16.