The court removed the arguments pending further order and directed the parties, including the state of Hawaii, the federal government and various advocacy groups, to file supplemental briefs on whether and to what extent the case is now moot. The briefs are due by noon on Oct 5. Solicitor General Noel Francisco filed a letter with the court Sunday requesting the supplemental briefing schedule.
The White House announced new restrictions on travelers from eight countries Sunday, replacing the executive order issued March 6. The new policy involves additional countries, country-specific rules and different requirements for immigrants and nonimmigrants. The new restrictions add new countries: Chad, Venezuela and North Korea. It also drops Sudan, which was included in the March 6 order.
Despite these changes, lawyers from the National Immigration Law Center and other civil rights organizations said on a call with reporters Monday morning that the new proclamation is simply a revised version of the “Muslim ban” the president promised during the campaign.
Advocates said the addition of countries that do not have a majority Muslim population, North Korea and Venezuela, are largely symbolic. The restrictions only apply to government officials from Venezuela, and very few North Koreans immigrate to the United States due to restrictions from their own country.
“This latest ban is another example of this administration’s xenophobic agenda and does nothing to change the fact that this started out and remains a Muslim ban. Our Constitution is intended to ensure that all of us, regardless of where we were born, how much we earn, or how we pray, are able to live in the United States without fear that our government will treat us any differently than anyone else,” said Avideh Moussavian, a senior policy attorney at the National Immigration Law Center.
