Trump Immigration Ban in Boston: Judge Will Not Extend Hold on Ban

A federal judge in Boston said Friday he will not extend Boston's stay of President Trump's controversial immigration ban past Sunday, when it's set to expire.

U.S. District Court Judge Nathaniel Gorton said earlier Friday he would not immediately decide whether to extend the temporary order currently neutering Trump's nationwide immigration ban in the city but promised to rule before the hold of the ban is set to expire Sunday.

The Boston Globe first reported the decision early Friday evening.

The decision was rendered moot when a federal judge in Seattle issued a nationwide temporary suspension of the ban just a short while later.

Opponents of the ban, including Attorney General Maura Healey's office and lawyers for the ACLU, argued before Gorton Friday morning that it targets Muslims, violating their constitutional rights. A Department of Justice lawyer argued the ban targets potential terrorists, not any religion.

Gorton said he would not allow the hearing to become one "on the merits to the demerits of the new administration's immigration policy," according to reports. He also reportedly said it would not be a hearing on everyone affected by the ban.

• READ: Some, Not All, Travelers Banned by Immigration Order May Now Board for Boston, Airline Says

The ACLU in Massachusetts on Wednesday added six plaintiffs: three Iranians who are permanent residents, two Iranians who were on student visas and Boston-based international aid organization Oxfam, which has argued it can't bring in partners to its headquarters.

Trump's executive order indefinitely banned Syrian refugees from entering the country and temporarily other refugees and immigrants from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Syria, Sudan, Somalia and Yemen. It halted dozens held on incoming flights.

Protests erupted across the country, including at Logan Airport, where some passengers were detained. Two Boston judges then issued a hold of the order in the city.

• READ: Thousands in Boston Protest Trump's Immigration Order

Also Friday, German airline Lufthansa backpedaled from its statement Thursday saying "All passengers with valid travel documents are eligible to board" its Boston-bound flights.

An updated statement now says "Admission will be refused to visitors with a passport issued by 7 countries - Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen - and holding a valid immigrant or non-immigrant visa for the US."

Photo of Boston rally by Sarah Betancourt for Patch