Hawaii judge extends order blocking Trump travel ban

Hawaii-based US District Judge turned his original temporary restraining order into a preliminary injunction

LOS ANGELES: The US federal judge who put on hold President Trump's revised travel ban extended his order blocking implementation of the controversial measure.

Hawaii-based US District Judge Derrick Watson said on Wednesday he had turned his original temporary restraining order into a preliminary injunction. The Justice Department is expected to appeal.



Earlier this month, the state of Hawaii requested emergency court intervention to halt a revised executive order from President Donald Trump placing US entry restrictions on refugees and travellers from six Muslim-majority countries.

Arguing that the new travel ban violates the US Constitution, the state had asked a Hawaii federal court to grant a temporary restraining order that should apply nationally.



Hawaii claims its state universities would be harmed by the order because they would have trouble recruiting students and faculty. It also says the island state’s economy would be hit by a decline in tourism. The court papers cite reports that travel to the United States “took a nosedive” after Trump’s actions.