'No One Is Above the Law— Not Even the President'

Federal judge halts enforcement of Trump's immigration order
By Michael Harthorne,  Newser Staff
Posted Feb 3, 2017 6:31 PM CST
Trump's Immigration Order Halted by Federal Judge
Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson, seen here last month, successfully argued Friday for a nationwide restraining order on major parts of President Trump's executive order on immigration.   (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren, File)

A federal judge in Seattle on Friday evening halted enforcement of major parts of President Trump's executive order on immigration—effective for the entire country—in the "broadest" ruling against the order yet, Reuters reports. According to the Stranger, US District Judge James Robart granted a temporary restraining order that blocks the parts of the order that ban refugees and immigrants from seven countries from entering the US, as well as the part that allows exemptions based on religion. Federal officers nationwide can no longer legally enforce those portions of the executive order.

“The Constitution prevailed today,” the Seattle PI quotes Washington State Attorney General Bob Ferguson as saying. “No one is above the law—not even the President.” The restraining order was sought by the state of Washington, which was joined by Minnesota and officially supported by Amazon and Expedia. Ferguson had argued that Trump's executive order is illegal and discriminatory. Robart, who was appointed by George W. Bush, says he was following the job of the court, which is to make sure the order was both lawful and Constitutional. Attorneys for the federal government are expected to appeal the ruling. (More Donald Trump stories.)

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