The Supreme Court upholds the ban imposed by Trump in travellers from several Muslim-majority nations. Trump had banned travellers from Libya, Iran, Somalia, Syria, North Korea, Yemen and some visitors from Venezuela. This was the third time that the American President had banned travellers from these countries and the last two attempts by Trump were defeated in court.

The Hawaiian government claimed that the ban was unconstitutional because it was based on discrimination against Muslims and had nothing to do with national security. Hawaii made use of the speeches given out by Trump where he had claimed to keep Muslims out of the United States. The lawyers who represented the federal government rebutted that the countries on the list had been chosen because they had very poor vetting systems which can create a national security threat for the United States.

The opinion given by the majority was penned down by Chief Justice John Roberts. The opinion dismissed the words of the President stating them irrelevant. Roberts wrote that the only issue that the court needed to consider was whether the policy was constitutional. The ruling supported the interpretation of the immigration law made by Trump. A larger number of conservative judges felt that limiting the entry of individuals to the country on grounds of national security was within the President’s range of power.

The dissenting opinion was written down by Justice Sotomayor and it was a searing attack on the ruling view. He made it clear that the rhetoric of the President was needed to be included because a reasonable observer would conclude that the Proclamation was motivated by an anti-Muslim animus. Trump has stated that the decision was a major victory for the country and the constitution while the opponents have stated it as legalized religious discrimination.