Travel bans have been a controversial part of President Trump’s agenda dating back to his campaign when he vowed to ban people from certain countries entry into the United States.  Since his inauguration, Trump has suffered defeat after defeat in implementing his travel ban policy.  Now, however, that has changed with the Supreme Court’s decision to enter the fray and rule on the decisions of the country’s lower courts.

According to the NY Times, “The Supreme Court cleared the way on Monday for President Trump to prohibit the entry of some people into the United States from countries he deems dangerous, but the justices imposed strict limits on Mr. Trump’s travel ban while they examine the scope of presidential power over the border.”

While President Trump tweeted about his triumph, the Supreme Court’s actual decision was much more guarded.  In part, the Justices wrote that the ban could not be imposed on anyone who had “a credible claim of a bona fide relationship with a person or entity in the United States.”

This muddies the waters a bit and will lead to more legal challenges rather than fewer. Opponents of the travel ban are quick to remind us of the Japanese internment camps during World War II.  The internment of Japanese Americans in the United States during World War II was the forced relocation and incarceration in camps in the western interior of the country of between 110,000 and 120,000 people of Japanese ancestry, most of whom lived on the Pacific coast.  This is a particularly sad part of our nation’s history.  Scapegoating by language, ethnicity, color, sexual orientation, or religious affiliation is contrary to our principles and does not reflect the noble ideals upon which our country was founded.  Yes, we live in the age of terror.  Yes, we have enemies.  Banning people because of their country of origin or religious beliefs does not make us safer. 

If you or a loved one has immigration questions, please contact me and I will assist you.