The US Supreme Court has ruled to allow president Donald Trump’s latest travel ban to go into full effect, meaning the country can deny visitors from six mainly-Muslim countries.
The policy affects travellers from Chad, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Syria and Yemen.
Although the Supreme Court’s ruling covers the third version of Trump’s ban and lifts any injunctions imposed by lower courts, states can still lodge legal challenges. Two previous versions of the policy have been challenged by courts in various states.
Seven of the nine judges agreed to lift the injunctions. The policy will now be hear in federal appeals courts in California and Virginia to determine whether the ban is lawful. If those courts reject the ban, it will eventually end up back in the Supreme Court.
Omar Jadwat, director of The American Civil Liberty Union’s (ACLU) Immigrants’ Rights Project, has labelled the president’s actions ‘prejudiced’, pointing out that Trump retweeted racist anti-Muslim comments made by far right group Britain First. The ACLU and courts in Hawaii have outstanding cases in the Supreme Court against previous versions the travel ban, both of which are due to be heard this week.
Research by the GBTA shows European buyers predict there will be a reduction in US business trips if the ban goes ahead.