Travel ban: U.S. district court judge blocks second Trump order

A U.S. district court judge has again blocked a presidential directive from Donald Trump to halt the flow of refugees and asylum seekers from several predominantly Muslim countries.

This is the second time that a Trump executive order on the issue has been met with resistance from the courts. Judge Derrick Watson said the government's argument that the ban is based on national security claims and not religion does not hold water.

Trump, of course, called the ruling an example of the judiciary overstepping its authority.

But the judge noted that the intent of the directive was to identify Muslim men and women and pointed out that this was unconstitutional. That was the same thing that was said about Trump's first try at a travel ban, which also was shot down by the courts.

The president has the right idea -- keep potential terrorists out of this country. But he apparently is going about it the wrong way.

Published in Editorials on March 17, 2017 9:56 AM