RICHMOND, Va. – The Latest on a hearing before the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on President Donald Trump's updated travel ban (all times local):
11:45 a.m.
President Donald Trump's retweets of anti-Muslim videos has come under scrutiny during a federal appeals court hearing on the latest version of his travel ban.
Judges of the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals were asked Friday to consider the president's Nov. 29 retweeting of videos purporting to show Muslims committing acts of violence as they debate whether to uphold a partial injunction against the ban issued by a Maryland judge in October.
A lawyer for groups challenging the travel ban told the judges that the president's retweeting of the videos, as well as other statements he's made about Muslims, show that he has "doubled down" on a campaign pledge to keep Muslims out of the U.S.
The judges differed on whether they should consider Trump's statements or simply to look at the language of his proclamation outlining the ban.
The 4th Circuit rejected an earlier version of the travel ban in May, finding that it "drips with religious intolerance." In that ruling, the court cited Trump's statements about Muslims.
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10:50 a.m.
A lawyer for groups challenging President Donald Trump's updated travel ban has told a federal appeals court that the president has made it clear through his statements and tweets that the ban is aimed at keeping Muslims out of the U.S.
Thirteen judges on the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals heard arguments Friday, four days after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the Trump administration can fully enforce the third version of his travel ban as challenges make their way through the 4th Circuit and the San Francisco-based 9th Circuit Court of Appeals.
The 4th Circuit is being asked to reverse a decision by a Maryland judge whose injunction in October barred the administration from enforcing the ban against travelers from Chad, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Syria and Yemen who have bona fide relationships with people or organizations in the U.S.
Cecillia Wang, a deputy legal director at the national American Civil Liberties Union, told the 4th Circuit that Trump has "doubled down" on his campaign pledge to bar Muslims through his latest travel ban. She said the ban is contrary to the laws passed by Congress and violates the U.S. Constitution.
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9:35 a.m.
Judges with a federal appeals court in Virginia have peppered a government lawyer with questions about President Donald Trump's latest travel ban, including whether the president has the authority to ban 150 million nationals from other countries.
Deputy Assistant Attorney General Hashim Mooppan told judges on the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals that the president's latest set of travel restrictions was the product of a global, multiagency review that found eight countries do not share enough security-related information with the United States. He insisted the latest travel ban is different than two previous bans that have been harshly criticized as anti-Muslim.
One judge referred to Trump's campaign promise and other statements he's made to keep Muslims out of the U.S., then asked if the court is supposed to "ignore reality" and believe the ban is not directed at Muslims.
The 4th Circuit is being asked to reverse a decision by a Maryland judge whose injunction in October barred the administration from enforcing the ban against travelers from Chad, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Syria and Yemen who have bona fide relationships with people or organizations in the U.S.
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4:02 a.m.
President Donald Trump's updated travel ban is headed back to a federal appeals court in Virginia.
Thirteen judges on the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals will be asked to decide if the ban discriminates against Muslims or is necessary to protect national security.
Friday's scheduled hearing comes four days after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled the Trump administration can fully enforce the ban as the separate challenges continue before the 4th Circuit and the San Francisco-based 9th Circuit appeals courts.
The 4th Circuit is being asked to reverse the decision of a Maryland judge who issued an injunction barring the administration from enforcing the ban against travelers who have bona fide relationships with people or organizations in the U.S.
The administration insists that the ban is based on legitimate national security concerns.
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