Blumenthal Welcomes District Court Ruling on Trump Muslim Ban Guidance

[WASHINGTON, DC] – U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) released the following statement today after a federal judge ordered the Trump administration to comply with a recent Supreme Court opinion limiting the administration’s travel ban on refugees and people from six majority-Muslim countries. Under the judge’s order, travel will be allowed for refugees who have relationships with U.S. resettlement agencies, as well as grandparents, grandchildren, and other family members of people in the United States.

“Federal courts are again compelling President Trump to follow the Constitution. The District Court’s ruling is the proper interpretation of the Supreme Court’s order on the Trump Administration’s Muslim travel ban.  The Trump Administration’s definition of an immigrant’s bona fide relationship absolutely defied common-sense, for example, excluding grandparents or refugee resettlement agencies,” Blumenthal said.

“The Trump Administration’s attempt to inappropriately limit the Supreme Court’s holding was logically ludicrous and legally laughable. Once again, the Trump Administration rolled out a travel ban with no consultation and minimal forethought and respect for a judicial decision – in this case a Supreme Court opinion that is just a few weeks old. And once again, our nation’s independent judiciary stepped in to uphold the rule of law.”

Blumenthal joined a bipartisan group of Senators led by U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) in calling on Trump Administration officials to continue implementing the U.S. refugee program in light of the recent Supreme Court decision allowing parts of President Trump’s Muslim ban to take effect tonight. The Supreme Court ruled that refugee admissions will continue in cases where a refugee can demonstrate a ‘bona fide relationship’ with an American individual or entity. The full text of the letter is available here.