Hawaii state attorneys filed a motion in US District Court in Honolulu yesterday requesting a federal judge to issue a temporary restraining order against Trump’s revised travel ban, becoming the first state to do so. Ismail Elshikh, imam of the Muslim Association of Hawaii, is a co-plaintiff in the motion.
Hawaii State Attorney General Doug Chin said in a statement via a news release: “The state of Hawaii intends to pursue legal action regarding President Trump’s new travel ban, which was issued yesterday. The state, together with the Department of Justice, asked Judge Derrick K. Watson for an expedited briefing schedule on a motion for temporary restraining order. If Judge Watson agrees, this schedule will allow the court to hear the state’s motion before the new travel ban goes into effect on March 16, 2017.”
Chin calls Trump’s Travel Ban a Muslim Ban, saying it is being presented by the White House administration as necessary to protect national safety and security, but he says it’s about discriminating against people based on their religion or national origin.
The changes made to Trump’s original executive order, removes Iraq from the list of countries involved in the ban, which still include Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen.The revision also now exempts permanent residents and current visa holders, and no longer includes language offering preferential status to persecuted religious minorities.
Neal Katyal, a Washington DC attorney who represents Hawaii said in a tweet: “Here we go. Proud to stand w/State of Hawaii challenging Pres. Trump’s ‘new’ Executive Order issued yesterday.” Katyal’s firm’s website shows a proposed schedule that outlines the temporary restraining order would be filed today, Wednesday, March 8, 2017, and the US government would file their opposition on Monday, followed by an oral argument on March 15.
AG Chin said the state anticipates filing a second amended complaint and a motion for a temporary restraining order soon.
The District Court has not yet issued a ruling.
UPDATE: A federal judge in Honolulu allowed Hawaii’s amended lawsuit challenging President Donald Trump’s revised travel ban to move forward.
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