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Hawaii judge puts Donald Trump's revised travel ban on hold Hawaii federal judge blocks Donald Trump's new travel ban hours before it is due to begin
(35 minutes later)
Donald Trump’s wish to prevent citizens from six Muslim-majority countries from entering the US has suffered another set back, after a judge put his revised travel ban on hold.Donald Trump’s wish to prevent citizens from six Muslim-majority countries from entering the US has suffered another set back, after a judge put his revised travel ban on hold.
Derrick Watson, a US district judge in Hawaii, ordered the temporary stay just hours before Mr Trump’s action was due to come into effect at midnight. The nationwide ruling means that people should not be impacted by the order.Derrick Watson, a US district judge in Hawaii, ordered the temporary stay just hours before Mr Trump’s action was due to come into effect at midnight. The nationwide ruling means that people should not be impacted by the order.
Mr Watson was one of three federal judges across the US that listened to legal arguments on Wednesday. Up to half-a-dozen states are seeking to block the executive order and judges in Maryland and the state of Washington also heard cases. At a rally in Nashville President Trump called the move by the judge was an "unprecedented judicial overreach" and said he was ready to take the case "as far as it needs to go" including to the Supreme Court.
"A judge has just blocked our executive order on travel and refugees coming into our country from certain countries", Mr Trump said.
"The order he blocked was a watered-down version of the first order that was also blocked by another judge and that should never have been blocked to start with …
"This is, in the opinion of many, an unprecedented judicial overreach," he added.
Judge Watson was one of three federal judges across the US that listened to legal arguments on Wednesday. Up to half-a-dozen states are seeking to block the executive order and judges in Maryland and the state of Washington also heard cases.
Mr Trump had issued a revised travel ban after his first sparked international protests and suffered several legal setbacks from courts who judged it unconstitutional. He hoped the new order, which did not involve green card holders and which removed any reference to religion, would be legally more watertight.Mr Trump had issued a revised travel ban after his first sparked international protests and suffered several legal setbacks from courts who judged it unconstitutional. He hoped the new order, which did not involve green card holders and which removed any reference to religion, would be legally more watertight.
But activists said the new ban still discriminated, both on the grounds of nationality and indeed religion.But activists said the new ban still discriminated, both on the grounds of nationality and indeed religion.
Lawyers for the ACLU and other groups, said that Mr Trump’s statements on the campaign trail during the 2016 election, and from his advisers since he took office, made clear the intention was to block Muslims.Lawyers for the ACLU and other groups, said that Mr Trump’s statements on the campaign trail during the 2016 election, and from his advisers since he took office, made clear the intention was to block Muslims.
The countries included in the measure were Iran, Libya, Syria, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen, and the order would have prevented their citizens them from entering the US for 90 days. The countries included in the measure were Iran, Libya, Syria, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen, and the order would have prevented their citizens them from entering the US for 90 days. 
Iraq was removed from the order after complaints from the Pentagon that Iraqis who had worked for the US military following the 2003 invasion, and who were in peril as a result, would suffer. There was also concern the move would demoralise a nation at the forefront of the fight against Isis.Iraq was removed from the order after complaints from the Pentagon that Iraqis who had worked for the US military following the 2003 invasion, and who were in peril as a result, would suffer. There was also concern the move would demoralise a nation at the forefront of the fight against Isis.
The island state of Hawaii, which has a Democratic governor and legislative assembly, had argued that Mr Trump’s revised order discriminated on the grounds of nationality, and would prevent Hawaii residents from receiving visits from relatives in the six countries named in the ban. The island state of Hawaii, which has a Democratic governor and legislative assembly, had argued that Mr Trump’s revised order discriminated on the grounds of nationality, and would prevent Hawaii residents from receiving visits from relatives in the six countries named in the ban. 
It also said the order would harm its crucial tourism industry, and the ability to recruit foreign students and workers. It also said the order would harm its crucial tourism industry, and the ability to recruit foreign students and workers. 
The Associated Press said that a group of 58 tech companies, including Airbnb, Lyft and Dropbox, filed a “friend of the court' brief in the case saying the order hurt their ability to recruit the best talent from around the world.The Associated Press said that a group of 58 tech companies, including Airbnb, Lyft and Dropbox, filed a “friend of the court' brief in the case saying the order hurt their ability to recruit the best talent from around the world.
A longer list of companies, which included giants such as Apple, Facebook and Google, filed a brief opposing the first ban in a different court challenge brought by Washington state, which is ongoing.A longer list of companies, which included giants such as Apple, Facebook and Google, filed a brief opposing the first ban in a different court challenge brought by Washington state, which is ongoing.
During the election campaign, Mr Trump had promised to tighten immigration regulations. During the election campaign, Mr Trump had promised to tighten immigration regulations. 
While his original order, signed on January 27, was considered racist and counter-productive by many, large number of the president’s supporters backed the move.While his original order, signed on January 27, was considered racist and counter-productive by many, large number of the president’s supporters backed the move.
Mr Trump himself questioned the professionalism of the judges who ruled against him.Mr Trump himself questioned the professionalism of the judges who ruled against him.
On Wednesday night, Mr Trump’s spokesman, Sean Spicer, did not immediately respond to questions from reporters about the court decision.On Wednesday night, Mr Trump’s spokesman, Sean Spicer, did not immediately respond to questions from reporters about the court decision.
The case in Hawaii was one of several that were under motion on Wednesday, after more than half-a-dozen states, including Washington, Oregon, California and New York, said they were going to try and stop Mr Trump’s revised order, which he signed on March 6.The case in Hawaii was one of several that were under motion on Wednesday, after more than half-a-dozen states, including Washington, Oregon, California and New York, said they were going to try and stop Mr Trump’s revised order, which he signed on March 6.
In Maryland, lawyers told a federal judge that the measure still discriminated against Muslims. Government officials, in turn, argued that the ban had been evised to remove an exemption for religious minorities from the affected countries.  In Maryland, lawyers told a federal judge that the measure still discriminated against Muslims. Government officials, in turn, argued that the ban had been evised to remove an exemption for religious minorities from the affected countries. 
“It doesn’t say anything about religion. It doesn’t draw any religious distinctions,” said Jeffrey Wall, who argued for the Department of Justice.“It doesn’t say anything about religion. It doesn’t draw any religious distinctions,” said Jeffrey Wall, who argued for the Department of Justice.
In Washington state, US District Judge James Robart, who halted the original ban last month, heard arguments in a lawsuit brought by the Northwest Immigrant Rights Project.In Washington state, US District Judge James Robart, who halted the original ban last month, heard arguments in a lawsuit brought by the Northwest Immigrant Rights Project.
Washington state’s Attorney General, Bob Ferguson, was at the hearing in Seattle, when he was told of the decision of the judge in Hawaii.Washington state’s Attorney General, Bob Ferguson, was at the hearing in Seattle, when he was told of the decision of the judge in Hawaii.
“Fantastic news,” Mr Ferguson said afterwards. “It’s very exciting. At this point it's a team effort - multiple lawsuits and multiple states.’“Fantastic news,” Mr Ferguson said afterwards. “It’s very exciting. At this point it's a team effort - multiple lawsuits and multiple states.’