Liberals, activists decry Supreme Court’s travel ban ruling

<p>A number of Brooklyn's elected officials said they were disappointed Tuesday after the Supreme Court's 5-4 decision along party lines to uphold President Donald Trump's travel ban.</p>

News 12 Staff

Jun 26, 2018, 9:44 PM

Updated 2,137 days ago

Share:

A number of Brooklyn's elected officials said they were disappointed Tuesday after the Supreme Court's 5-4 decision along party lines to uphold President Donald Trump's travel ban.
Most travelers from seven countries will no longer be able to enter the United States. Five of them have predominantly Muslim populations: Libya, Syria, Iran, Yemen and Somalia. The other two are North Korea and Venezuela.
Humans rights groups are also criticizing the decision, as is the Council on American-Islamic Relations. Residents held a protest in Foley Square Tuesday night in protest of the decision.
"What we believe is that given the president's statements -- given his statements on television, his tweets, his public advocacy -- that this was a Muslim ban," said Albert Fox Cahn, the legal director of CAIR-NY.
But Chief Justice John Roberts, writing for the majority decision, said the ban falls within the scope of presidential authority -- and that it does not discriminate against Muslims.
Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg, a Brooklyn native, wrote the dissenting opinion along with Justice Sonia Sotomayor, who is from the Bronx. They argued that the travel ban violates the First Amendment by failing to uphold religious liberty -- and that a reasonable observer would conclude that the ban would be considered anti-Muslim.
Jerry Kassar, the chairman of the Kings County Conservative Party, told News 12 over the phone that the ruling was in line with the power past presidents wielded over immigration issues.
"Since the nation was formed, the president has logically had the power to influence immigration issues and international security issues," he said. "The Supreme Court simply upheld a longstanding tradition."
He also said that such authority should always rest in the hands of a sitting president, regardless of who it is.


More from News 12
1:55
Large fire at 2-story Bensonhurst building leaves home destroyed

Large fire at 2-story Bensonhurst building leaves home destroyed

2:13
Temperatures cool off heading into the weekend for NYC

Temperatures cool off heading into the weekend for NYC

1:59
Community members affected by Bushwick fire regroup, attempt to move forward

Community members affected by Bushwick fire regroup, attempt to move forward

1:41
New survey highlights challenges for migrants

New survey highlights challenges for migrants

1:55
PS 331 in Borough Park to be renamed in honor of slain Detective WenJian Liu

PS 331 in Borough Park to be renamed in honor of slain Detective WenJian Liu

0:43
2 City Council committees hold joint hearing on sexual harassment policies

2 City Council committees hold joint hearing on sexual harassment policies

4:14
'We lost something good'. FDNY says large fire destroys Bushwick supermarket, leaves 55 people homeless

'We lost something good'. FDNY says large fire destroys Bushwick supermarket, leaves 55 people homeless

Diocese of Brooklyn: 3 Catholic academies to close at the end of the school year

Diocese of Brooklyn: 3 Catholic academies to close at the end of the school year

2:03
New exhibit at Brooklyn Museum unveils new photos taken by Beatles' Paul McCartney

New exhibit at Brooklyn Museum unveils new photos taken by Beatles' Paul McCartney

0:32
NYPD: Suspect driver wanted for assaulting 59-year-old man in Williamsburg

NYPD: Suspect driver wanted for assaulting 59-year-old man in Williamsburg

0:23
Police: 2-car Prospect-Lefferts Gardens crash leaves person hospitalized

Police: 2-car Prospect-Lefferts Gardens crash leaves person hospitalized

0:36
Live Nation Concert Week offers $25 tickets to over 5,000 shows

Live Nation Concert Week offers $25 tickets to over 5,000 shows

2:22
Do you constantly reuse the same username and password? 6 steps to help safeguard your online accounts

Do you constantly reuse the same username and password? 6 steps to help safeguard your online accounts

1:27
Kingsboro Psychiatric Center workers demand their bosses get fired due to bullying, nepotism

Kingsboro Psychiatric Center workers demand their bosses get fired due to bullying, nepotism

1:53
Crowds gather again at Stony Brook University following night of 29 arrests during pro-Palestinian protest

Crowds gather again at Stony Brook University following night of 29 arrests during pro-Palestinian protest

1:51
RFK announces he has enough signatures to appear on NY ballot

RFK announces he has enough signatures to appear on NY ballot

1:46
Tenants weigh in on possible rent hikes for rent-stabilized homes

Tenants weigh in on possible rent hikes for rent-stabilized homes

1:38
Parks Department held community input meetings over new construction of skate parks

Parks Department held community input meetings over new construction of skate parks

1:27
Power restored in Manhattan Beach following 18-wheeler truck crash

Power restored in Manhattan Beach following 18-wheeler truck crash