Court Rebukes Trump Travel Ban's Narrow Definition Of 'Family'

SAN FRANCISCO, CA – The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Thursday rejected the broad scope of President Donald Trump's travel ban, ruling that extended family members of people in the United States and certain refugees cannot be blocked from entering the country.

The unanimous ruling from the three-judge panel of the San Francisco-based appeals court upheld a ruling by a federal judge in Hawaii who argued the administration's definition of what constituted "close relatives" was too restrictive. The judge also challenged the government's assertion that refugees should be banned even if they have ties to resettlement agencies.

"Stated simply, the government does not offer a persuasive explanation for why a mother-in-law is clearly a bona fide relationship, in the Supreme Court's prior reasoning, but a grandparent, grandchild, aunt, uncle, niece, nephew, or cousin is not," the ruling stated.

Watch: Federal Travel Ban Rejects Trump Travel Ban Family Rules

The travel ban was issued by Trump in an executive order on March 6. It would bar entry by citizens of six countries – Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen – for three months and refugees from all countries for four months while the Trump administration reviews its vetting procedures.

The U.S. Supreme Court in June reinstated part of the ban pending arguments scheduled for October. The action overruled two federal appeals courts that blocked the ban more completely.

Also see:

U.S. Supreme Court To Review Trump Travel Ban, Reinstates Portion Of It

Watch: Appeals Court Rules More Family Members Are Exempt From Travel Ban

Bay City News Service contributed to this report.

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