Trump's Travel Ban Suffers Another Defeat in Court

President's Trump's proposed travel ban suffered yet another defeat Thursday when the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a block on the part of the ban that suspends visas for people from six predominantly Muslim countries, CNBC reports. According to the Huffington Post, the ruling was made by 13 judges in Virginia. It upheld a March ruling from a Maryland district court, which found the president's travel ban violated the equal protection clause of the Constitution, the Guardian reports. The next stop for the travel ban, which is also being contested in the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, is likely the Supreme Court.

The 4th Circuit Court of Appeals states it was "unconvinced" Trump's travel ban "has more to do with national security than it does with effectuating the president's proposed Muslim ban." CNN has the full text of the ruling. While the White House has said the ban is needed to keep the country safe, Trump's own statements have given reason to believe the ban is meant to target Muslims. For example, the president's campaign website once advocated a "total and complete shutdown" of Muslims entering the US. The judges ruled Trump's past statements should be considered in regard to the proposed ban. They also stated the president's power to control who enters the country is "broad" but not "absolute." (More Trump travel ban stories.)