Trump Enjoys Partial Victory in Travel Ban
June 27, 2017
Yesterday, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a decision to temporarily allow limited portions of President Trump's Travel Ban to remain in effect. Individuals who fail to demonstrate a "bona fide relationship with any person or entity in the United States" would be temporarily blocked from receiving a visa if they are citizens or nationals of the six countries (Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen). Bona fide relationships include individuals who are coming here for school, for work, or have substantial connections to existing family members in the United States.What does this mean for folks with no previously established connection to family, school or work in the U.S.? If they are nationals from any of the above countries, there's a good chance their visa applications would be halted for the time being.The unsigned Supreme Court opinion also provides a glimpse into the near future into the direction the Court may lean when making a final decision on the constitutionality of the President's Executive Order. The Court will hear oral arguments later this October but in its recent opinion yesterday, it indicated agreement with the lower courts so far. If the travel ban remains in effect at that time, we'll see a real show-down between the President and the Supreme Court. Stay tuned!