Federal judge rules that legal challenge to Trump travel ban can proceed

A federal judge ruled Thursday that a revised legal challenge to President Trump’s travel ban can proceed.

The ruling was made by U.S. District Judge Theodore Chuang in Maryland after the three consolidated cases were brought by American Muslims who have been separated from family members who are citizens of countries named in the ban. 

{mosads}Chuang’s decision will allow plaintiffs to request evidence from the government about how the travel ban was originated and how it is being enforced, according to BuzzFeed. 

Chuang, who was appointed by former President Obama, wrote in a 46-page decision that he saw enough evidence to show Trump’s ban may not be related to legitimate national security matters.

A lawyer for the Brennan Center For Justice, one of the groups that brought the suit, celebrated the decision in a statement. 

“This is a big win for American Muslims and all Americans who value religious freedom,” said Faiza Patel, co-director of the center’s Liberty and National Security Program. “The court firmly rejected the government’s motion to shut down the case, so we can move ahead to demonstrate conclusively that the Muslim Ban was motivated by prejudice not proof.”

The Supreme Court last year upheld the ban in a major victory for the Trump administration. But Chuang’s ruling Thursday indicates that the legal battle surrounding the ban isn’t over yet.

Opponents often argue that it unfairly targets people from Muslim-majority countries, but Trump has insisted that it is not a “Muslim ban.”

The White House and the Justice Department did not immediately reply to requests from The Hill.

Updated at 6:44 p.m.