Supreme Court agrees to temporary block on new refugees
WASHINGTON _ Justice Anthony M. Kennedy granted a request from Trump administration lawyers Monday and temporarily blocked a 9th Circuit Court order that would have allowed more refugees to enter the United States from six majority-Muslim nations.
The government had asked for a "temporary administrative stay" to give the justices time to consider the issue.
A 9th Circuit order, due to take effect Tuesday, would have cleared the way for as many as 24,000 refugees who have "a sponsorship-assurance agreement" with a U.S.-based refugee-resettlement agency, the government said.
The administration says that definition is too broad because it covers foreigners who would have "no contact" with anyone in this country until they arrive here.
But President Donald Trump's legal team gave up _ for now _ trying to apply the ban to grandparents of people who live here. Last week, the 9th Circuit said that grandparents are close relatives and therefore _ according to an earlier Supreme Court order _ may not be denied entry under the disputed travel ban.
The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear arguments Oct. 10 on the legality of Trump's travel ban.
_Tribune Washington Bureau
