USA: Judge blocks Donald Trump – President’s power “not unlimited”

Seattle. A US federal judge has blocked an order by President Donald Trump to stop a refugee program. Jamal Whitehead in Seattle ruled on Tuesday that the Republican's measures amounted to an "effective override of the will of Congress." Whitehead ruled on a lawsuit filed by refugee aid groups against Trump's executive order. They argued that the order runs counter to a system that the US Congress created for the resettlement of refugees in the USA.

Lawyers for the Trump administration argued that the president has the authority to deny entry to foreign nationals if they "would harm the interests of the United States." Whitehead countered that while the president can suspend the admission of refugees, his authority is "not unlimited."

What's moving the United States: RND's USA experts provide context and background information. Every Tuesday.

By subscribing to the newsletter I agree to the advertising agreement .

Trump's executive order had caused the travel of refugees who had already been admitted to the United States to be canceled at short notice, according to the lawsuit. In addition, families who had waited years to be together again were further separated from each other.

The refugee program in question enables legal immigration to the USA. It has existed for decades. It benefits people who have fled war or natural disasters, among other things. Trump justified the suspension by saying that cities and municipalities are overwhelmed by alleged "record levels of migration".

Trump had already suspended the refugee program during his first term in office and subsequently drastically reduced the number of refugees allowed to enter the United States each year.

RND/AP