The Supreme Court upheld President Trump’s travel ban of people from a handful countries by a margin of 5-4.
Under the ban, immigration from Iran, Libya, North Korea, Somalia, Syria and Yemen are restricted. The Trump administration has claimed that the ban is necessary for national security purposes, and the Supreme Court agreed.
Chief Justice John Roberts wrote in the majority opinion that federal law “exudes deference to the president” when it comes to setting limits on immigration, adding that the president just has to prove that doing so is in “the interests of the United States.”
“The proclamation is expressly premised on legitimate purposes: preventing entry of nationals who cannot be adequately vetted and inducing other nations to improve their practices,” Roberts wrote.
In the dissent, Justice Sonia Sotomayor claimed that the travel ban “was motivated by anti-Muslim animus” based on Trump’s past statements on Muslims and that the ban has resulted in “pain and suffering” on “countless families and individuals, many of whom are United States citizens.”
Trump hailed the ruling as a “profound vindication” in a White House statement.
“As long as I am President, I will defend the sovereignty, safety, and security of the American People, and fight for an immigration system that serves the national interests of the United States and its citizens,” Trump said.
