The US Supreme Court faces its first big showdown over the immigration policies pursued by President Donald Trump, on Wednesday, when the justices will hear a challenge to the legality of the travel ban implemented on individuals from several Muslim-majority nations.
The case will be a test of the limits of the President’s power. The policy, which was announced last September, prevents most from Iran,
Somalia, Yemen, Libya, and Syria from entering the US. The list also previously included Chad, but Trump removed those restrictions from that country on 10 April. The legal merits of any of Trump’s immigration policies have never been decided on by the high court, including his decision to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program.
But, the Supreme Court has previously followed requests by the President to undo orders from lower courts, which blocked those policies, opposing Trump on the deferred action issue but supporting him on the travel ban. The Supreme Court, which has a conservative majority, will hear arguments on the third travel ban policy variation put forth since Trump assumed the Presidency in January last year, on Wednesday, with a ruling expected by the end of June.
The state of Hawaii is the lead challenger, arguing that the ban is a violation of both federal immigration law and the prohibition against the government favoring one religion over others in the US Constitution.