Supreme Court Allows Trump To Bar Refugees, Overrules 9th Circuit​ Decision

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled Tuesday that, for now, the Trump administration can bar around 24,000 refugees who have received resettlement assurances from agencies from entering the United States.

In a brief order, the high court overruled a Sept. 7 decision by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco that would have allowed the group admission.

<< Also see: Court Rebukes Trump Travel Ban's Narrow Definition Of 'Family' >>

The dispute over the 24,000 refugees is part of a larger case in which the Supreme Court is considering challenges to a revised travel ban issued by Trump in an executive order on March 6.

On Oct. 10 the high court will hear arguments on the full ban, which applies to visitors from six mostly Muslim countries, as well as refugees from all countries.

President Trump's order would exclude for three months visitors from Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen and for four months refugees from all countries while the administration reviews its vetting procedures.

In the larger case, the Supreme Court is considering two challenges to Trump's March 6 order.

One lawsuit, filed by the state of Hawaii, claimed the order violated the rights of Hawaii residents who have overseas relatives as well as the rights of the University of Hawaii to seek foreign students and professors.

A federal trial judge in Honolulu issued a nationwide preliminary injunction blocking implementation of the ban. That injunction was upheld by the 9th Circuit in San Francisco on June 12.

In a second case, an immigrants' rights group challenged the part of the ban that applies to visitors from six mostly Muslim countries. A federal trial judge in Maryland issued a preliminary injunction that was later upheld by the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Virginia.

After the U.S. Justice Department appealed both circuit court rulings to the Supreme Court, the high court agreed on June 26 to review both cases and to hold the Oct. 10 hearing.

In an interim ruling on June 26, the Supreme Court said the Trump administration can implement most of the travel ban until the case is resolved, but that the administration must allow entry to those who have a "bonafide relationship" with a U.S. person or entity.

The court, however, did not define the meaning of "bonafide relationship." In its Sept. 6 decision, a 9th Circuit panel said the description should include refugees who have assurances of resettlement support from nine religious and charitable organizations that work with the U.S. government.

That definition was deleted by Tuesday's Supreme Court order.

In its Sept. 6 decision, the 9th Circuit also expanded the categories of close relatives who should be exempt from the ban to include grandparents and other extended-family members. The Justice Department did not appeal that part of the ruling.

There are currently 175,000 additional refugee applicants who have no resettlement assurances, according to a government filing.

By Bay City News Service / Image via Shutterstock