Delawareans: Does Trump travel ban protect or divide us?

A Supreme Court decision to uphold a President Trump's travel ban targeting predominantly Muslim countries has divided Delawareans.

"The president has every right to protect our country in any way he sees fit," said Sandra Ware, past president of the Sussex County Republican Women's Club. "If it's countries that have proven to have terrorist activities, why wouldn't we want him to protect us?"

On Tuesday, a 5-4 Supreme Court ruling reversed a series of lower court decisions that found a ban on travelers from Iran, Libya, Somalia, Syria and Yemen to be illegal or unconstitutional.

The divided high court opinion, issued by Chief Justice John Roberts, found entry restrictions were limited to countries previously designated by Congress or prior administrations as posing national security risks.

"The proclamation is squarely within the scope of presidential authority," the chief justice wrote. He added that claims of religious bias against Muslims did not hold up against "a sufficient national security justification." However, he said, "We express no view on the soundness of the policy."

The ruling came as a surprise to Muqtedar Khan, president of the Delaware Council on Global and Muslim Affairs and a professor at the University of Delaware.

"For me, the most critical thing was the fact that the Supreme Court chose not to pay attention to President Trump's tweets... in which he called it a Muslim ban," Khan said. "It's like Mr. Trump got his cake and he got to eat it, too. Even though he didn't deliver a Muslim ban, most of the countries listed are predominantly Muslim countries."

Locally, the decision only adds to the fear many Muslims already feel when traveling in and out of the country, Khan said, noting that some of this apprehension existed before the current administration.

In Delaware, the local government has been largely supportive of the Muslim community, Khan said, with New Castle County Executive Matt Meyer and Gov. John Carney both holding events to mark the month of Ramadan.

Still, the ruling is creating ripples in the community.

"Liberals who think we're discriminating need to take a step back and examine exactly where this came from," said Ware, 65. "You're not discriminating against people, you're just trying to weed out terrorism wherever you can. If our government thinks this is a better way to protect us, we should embrace it for now."

After Trump issued an executive order banning citizens of seven Muslim-majority countries from entering the United States last year, protests erupted across the country. The upheld ban is the third in a series of efforts to restrict travel from those countries.

At Philadelphia International Airport in January 2017, thousands, including Delawareans, welcomed refugees and immigrants while protesting Trump's directive.

On Tuesday, Philadelphia International Airport was quiet.

Trump called Tuesday's ruling a "tremendous victory" after tweeting "SUPREME COURT UPHOLDS TRUMP TRAVEL BAN. Wow!"

Khan said he thinks Tuesday’s ruling will only empower Trump and his administration to make more sweeping decisions using his presidential power.

“In that sense, the Supreme Court really empowers him in some way,” Khan said. “He can take egregious and shocking policy positions which are contrary to the history of our country.”

Globally, that message is resonating as well. Khan said he was already contacted by BBC India on Tuesday, as many international audiences are asking whether the decision marks America’s transition to anti-immigration.

“They’re asking, ‘Are immigrants not welcome anymore?’ ” Khan said. “It kind of creates the impression abroad that the United States is becoming an Islamophobic country.”

Delaware Sen. Chris Coons said he plans to soon introduce legislation to counteract the travel ban.

“The Supreme Court may have ruled that the president’s travel ban was technically constitutional, but that doesn’t mean that it’s right, that it’s justified, or that it reflects America’s values," Coons said. "In the coming weeks, I plan to introduce legislation to make clear that in the United States, we will not tolerate discrimination based on religion or nationality, and I invite everyone who treasures our American values to join me in defending them.

"The president’s travel ban is not only discriminatory and counterproductive; it stands in direct contrast to the principles embedded in our Constitution and our founders’ vision of a nation where all people are free to worship as they choose. With time, we have made our union more perfect by fighting discrimination in all of its forms, but the Court’s decision today demonstrates that we have a long way to go before we live up to our highest ideals.”

U.S. Rep. Andy Harris, R-Maryland, hailed the ruling as key to ensuring the United States' national security.

“The national security of the United States is President Trump’s top priority. I applaud the Supreme Court’s decision to uphold the President’s constitutional authority to implement national security and immigration policies that keep the American people safe," Harris said.

"The countries affected by this decision have consistently failed to meet visa security requirements, and worse yet, some of these governments openly sponsor terrorist activities. The Supreme Court ruled today in favor of our national security, and on the side of the Constitution.”

The Salisbury Daily Times and USA Today contributed to this story.