President Trump promised additional legal action from his Justice Department on Thursday evening after the 9th Circuit denied his request to reinstate his ban on immigration from seven countries.
“SEE YOU IN COURT, THE SECURITY OF OUR NATION IS AT STAKE!” Trump tweeted moments after the ruling was announced.
SEE YOU IN COURT, THE SECURITY OF OUR NATION IS AT STAKE!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 9, 2017
Trump later told reporters at the White House on Thursday evening that the court’s 3-0 ruling was a “political decision.”
“We have a situation where the security of our country is at stake, and it’s a very, very serious situation. So we look forward, as I just said, to seeing them in court,” Trump said.
The administration’s intentions to appeal the appeals court ruling could bring the issue all the way to the Supreme Court, which is comprised of eight members at this time.
Trump nominated Judge Neil Gorsuch last week to replace the late Justice Antonin Scalia. Pending his Senate confirmation, a possible Supreme Court decision on Trump’s travel ban could take place before Gorsuch’s vote takes place.
The Senate could use the nuclear option to ensure Gorsuch is confirmed. That could possibly help with Trump’s refugee ban being upheld, even though it would likely be after the plan’s 90 days of action.
The issues will likely fill out Trump’s first 100 days in office, but he told one reporter at the White House the appeals court’s ruling does not undercut the early days of his presidency.
“No, this is just a decision that came down, but we are going to win the case,” Trump said.
Trump has not yet spoken with Attorney General Jeff Sessions, who was sworn into office earlier on Thursday. He said the White House will decide on a solicitor general within the next week.
The Washington state attorney general’s office issued a four-word statement celebrating the court’s ruling.
“DENIED. UNANIMOUS. PER CURIUM.,” the office of Attorney General Bob Ferguson wrote.
DENIED. UNANIMOUS. PER CURIUM.
— WA Attorney General (@AGOWA) February 9, 2017
Former 2016 Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton tweeted, “3-0,” following the decision.
3-0
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) February 10, 2017
Washington state was one of a handful of states to sue the administration for the president’s executive order to temporarily suspend immigration from Somalia, Iran, Iraq, Sudan, Syria, Libya and Yemen. Last Friday, Seattle-based U.S. District Judge James Robart ruled in favor of a lawsuit by Ferguson, who took action on certain provisions in the executive action. Robart’s restraining order was granted on a national level and took effect immediately.
Justice lawyers asked the San Francisco-based appeals court to reinstate Trump’s ban on refugees and asylum seekers from those seven countries. The decree is set to expire 90 days from its start date on Jan. 27. On Tuesday evening, Justice Department attorneys and Washington state representatives argued the case in an hour-long phone hearing before the appeals court.
