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WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump’s restrictions on travelers from several Muslim-majority countries face a legal test Wednesday, when the Supreme Court considers whether the administration can categorically bar entry to the U.S. based on a person’s nationality.
The case traces back to a defining moment in Trump’s campaign, when he called for “a total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States.” That idea evolved through three travel bans of varying character and severity, the latest issued in September 2017.
The ban has become more measured in some respects, as the White House has sought to withstand legal scrutiny, though the current travel prohibitions have no expiration date, a contrast from the temporary nature of the earlier bans.
To prevail, the government may have to persuade the justices that the current order is untainted by religious bias, contrary to the findings of some lower courts. The administration also will assert that the ban is needed to help prevent terrorist attacks. The travel ban arguments are the last of the Supreme Court’s current term. The justice are expected to rule by the end of June.
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