The US Supreme Court delivered a victory this Monday to President Donald Trump approving his provisional ban on entering the United States for travelers from six Muslim countries and for people who do not have strong ties with the United States, adding that they will decide on the legality of that order this autumn.
The test of presidential powers
This case represents a great test of presidential powers. The judges, in their unsigned decision, approved parts of the urgent Trump administration request to immediately execute the order while the legal battle continues.
The court, narrowing down the judgments of lower courts that have completely blocked its executive order since March 6, said it will open a hearing in October on the legality of this most important Trump decision in the first months of his presidency.
The March 6 motion called for a 90-day ban on passengers entering the US from Libya, Iran, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen, and a 120-day ban on all refugees, using that time to allow the government to introduce more stringent checks on borders. The ruling was blocked by federal judges before it was due to come into force on March 16. The ban will come into force partially in the next 72 hours, based on a memorandum issued by the Trump Administration on June 14.
Even before the decision of The Supreme Court, the ban only applied to new visa applicants, not to people who already have a visa or those who are permanently resident in the United States. The Executive Order also exempts foreigners who wish to enter the United States to resume work or study, visiting a spouse, child or parent who is an American citizen or because of important business or professional responsibilities.
Transit refugees or those who already have a permit may travel to the United States under this executive order. The judges said the ban on travel would take effect for foreign nationals who do not have a "bona fide" connection with a person or entity in the United States. This means that people from six countries and refugees who have a family, business or other relationships can not be banned from entering.
The White House ignored the iftar dinner
President Donald Trump did not organize the iftar for Ramadan Bajram, one of the two biggest holidays in Islam religion, which overturned the almost 20-year-old tradition of the United States Presidency, marking the end of the post in the Islamic Blessed Month on a special evening.
The first iftar was organized by Thomas Jefferson in the White House in 1805, hosting a hospitable ambassador. Hillary Clinton organized the dinner as a first lady in February 1996 with up to 150 guests. The custom continued, so George W. Bush had iftar dinner each year of his mandate, including the one after the September 11 attack. Barack Obama continued the tradition of iftar every year of his mandate too.
