by Donald Wood
Last updated: 11:58 AM ET, Wed October 18, 2017
Hours before United States President Donald Trump's latest travel ban was to take effect, a federal judge in Hawaii blocked the executive order Tuesday.
According to The Associated Press, District Judge Derrick Watson granted Hawaii's request to temporarily block the new travel ban that would've been implemented Wednesday, citing many of the same issues that thwarted the administration's two previous executive orders.
Judge Watson said the new travel ban ignores the ruling by the Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit that stated previous orders exceeded the scope of President Trump's authority and promoted discrimination based on nationality.
The latest travel ban focused on citizens of Chad, Iran, Libya, North Korea, Somalia, Syria and Yemen, as well as Venezuelan government officials and their families. U.S. officials said the new policy was crafted after assessing the security protocols of every country. The nations that made the list reportedly did not meet the standards of the Department of Homeland Security.
Judge Watson's order will prevent Homeland Security Secretary Elaine Duke and Secretary of State Rex Tillerson from implementing the latest travel ban.
The decision to block the travel ban in Hawaii isn't the only court challenging the latest executive order, as the American Civil Liberties Union and other groups are attempting to block the visa and entry restrictions in the Maryland court system.
In addition, officials from Washington, Massachusetts, California, Oregon and New York are challenging the travel ban before U.S. District Judge James Robart in Seattle, who originally ruled against Trump's initial order in January.
The second travel ban was struck down by Judge Watson after he determined it promoted discrimination based on nationality and religion. The U.S. Supreme Court then ruled the executive order would be temporarily reinstated.
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