Appeals court rules Trump travel ban unconstitutional

A federal appeals court ruled Thursday that President Donald Trump’s latest attempt to block travel from terror-prone countries is unconstitutional. The Richmond-based 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, in a 9-4 vote, ruled the president’s order discriminated on the basis of religion. The latest version of the executive order blocks travel from eight countries—six of which have Muslim-majority populations. “Examining official statements from President Trump and other executive branch officials, along with the proclamation itself, we conclude that the proclamation is unconstitutionally tainted with animus toward Islam,” Chief Judge Roger Gregory wrote. This is the second federal appeals court to rule against Trump’s travel directive. The U.S. Supreme Court agreed in December to allow most of the travel order to remain in effect while litigation plays out. The high court announced last month it would review the case and likely will hear oral arguments in April. The president first sought the ban more than a year ago but legal challenges have blocked it from going into full effect. Trump says the order would protect the United States from terror attacks.