by Donald Wood
Last updated: 11:40 AM ET, Tue June 26, 2018
The United States Supreme Court announced Tuesday it upheld President Donald Trump's travel ban, rejecting claims from advocacy groups that the decision would cause discrimination against Muslims.
According to The Associated Press, Trump's travel ban to several Muslim-majority countries was upheld in a 5-4 decision, marking the Supreme Court's first substantive ruling on a Trump administration policy.
Chief Justice John Roberts revealed the majority opinion, with the other justices agreeing the President had enough power to regulate immigration. The court originally allowed the travel ban to take effect in December as the court battle raged on.
Several lower courts ruled the travel ban was unconstitutional before the Supreme Court made their decision Tuesday.
In response to the Supreme Court's decision Tuesday upholding President Trump's travel ban, the United States Travel Association executive vice president Jonathan Grella issued the following statement:
"Now that the U.S. court system has set guidelines for the president's executive orders on immigration, we are hopeful that a coherent and durable set of policies can be put into place by the administration."
"Today's decision should enable the White House to move on to a new messaging phase: making it clear that keeping bad actors out remains a priority, but making it equally clear that legitimate business and leisure travelers are as welcome and desired as ever in the United States."
"The economic stakes around strong and healthy international travel are too high-and speak too squarely to the president's priorities of growing exports, jobs, and the GDP-for the welcome message not to become a featured part of the administration's calculus."
The American Society of Travel Agents also released a statement on the Supreme Court's decision, via Executive Vice President Eben Peck:
"ASTA is currently reviewing the Supreme Court's recent decision upholding President Trump's Executive Order - which has been in effect since December 2017 pending a final court decision - with an eye toward assisting travel agents comply with it. As it is imperative that the traveling public maintain confidence in an industry so vital to our nation's economy, we ask that the Administration set clear implementation guidelines in short order such that travel disruptions are kept to an absolute minimum."
"At the same time, we align with the sentiment expressed by the U.S. Travel Association and other industry leaders that an overt message welcoming legitimate international travelers to the United States should accompany any security steps aimed at terrorists and those who overstay their visas."
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