Just how confusing is President Trump’s immigration ban order and subsequent court rulings?
At least for Los Angeles officials it’s all pretty confusing, so City Attorney Mike Feuer sent a letter to federal officials asking for explanations about complying with two court orders related to President Donald Trump’s travel ban executive order.
The letter was sent Friday to Department of Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly, Acting Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection Kevin K. McAleenan and Los Angeles Area port customs director Mitchell Merriam.
Trump on Jan. 27 issued an executive order that created a ban for travelers from seven Muslim-majority countries — Iran, Iraq, Syria, Sudan, Libya, Somalia and Yemen.
The letter references two federal court orders related to the travel ban.
One, by Judge Ann Donnelly of the Eastern District of New York on Jan. 27, ruled that travelers who already arrived in the U.S. before the president’s order went into effect who were refugees or valid visa holders could not be deported.
The other order, issued on Jan. 30 by Judge Andre Birottee, Jr. of the Central District of California, ordered that anyone with a valid visa from the seven countries should be allowed entry.
“News reports, including a story on Southern California Public Radio just last night, continue to allege that the federal government is failing to comply” with the orders, Feuer’s letter said.
The letter also describes how Feuer went to Los Angeles International Airport on Saturday after Donnelly’s order was issued when he heard that valid visa holders were continuing to be detained, but was rebuffed by Merriam.
“Mr. Merriam refused to provide a substantive answer to any of my questions. The most he offered was that federal officials `were reviewing’ (Donnelly’s order),” Feuer wrote.
“In addition, despite my law enforcement role, Mr. Merriam prevented me from gaining access to the portion of the airport controlled by (customs), so I could assess for myself whether anyone was under detention.”
Merriam could not be reached for comment.
The letter requests the federal government provide to Feuer the name of each person bound for or who landed at LAX since Saturday from the seven countries, the name of each traveler detained because of the executive order, and the names of any travllers who have been removed from the U.S. at LAX voluntarily or involuntarily.
The letter also requests dates and times and final destinations for any traveler who was removed, and if any continue to be detailed.
The White House has defended Trump’s order as a national security effort aimed at securing the country’s borders.
“Coming into this country is still a privilege,” White House press secretary Sean Spicer said earlier this week. “We’re the greatest country on Earth. Being able to come to America is a privilege, not a right. And it is our duty and it’s the president’s goal to make sure that everybody who comes into this country — to the best of our ability — is here because they want to enjoy this country and come in peacefully.”
— City News Service