Supreme Court's action on travel ban cause for concern, local organizations that serve refugees say


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SALT LAKE CITY — Elected officials and Utah organizations that work with refugees expressed concern over the Supreme Court's action on the Trump administration's travel ban.

The Supreme Court on Monday said it will allow the Trump administration to go forward with a limited version of its ban on travel from six mostly Muslim countries.

It also will hear arguments in the fall in cases filed in federal courts in Hawaii and Maryland that raised questions about the president's broad powers in immigration matters with respect to national security and religious discrimination.

A 120-day ban on refugees also is being allowed to take effect on a limited basis.

Catholic Community Services of Utah, which runs one of two primary refugee resettlement agencies in the state, described the ruling as blow to the United States' national identity.

“We are deeply disappointed by the Supreme Court’s ruling to uphold the portion of the Trump administration’s travel ban that halts the admittance of refugees to safety in the United States. As a country founded by those searching for religious freedom, this is a blow to our national identity," a statement from the organization said.

"Refugees are innocent victims of their situations, whom the United States has the ability and responsibility to care for and protect. For an already highly vetted population, this ruling will only create more harm and difficulties. As an organization, Catholic Community Services of Utah will continue to advocate and fight for those who are the true voiceless casualties of this decision. We call on our community to stand with us in this fight and defend the freedoms we hold so dearly as a nation.”

Salt Lake City Mayor Jackie Biskupski said it's difficult to predict the final outcome once the Supreme Court conducts hearings on presidential powers and related issues.

"I continue to believe the system the United States had in place for vetting refugees from war-torn areas, prior to the travel ban, was extensive and thoughtful. If sections of the ban left in place will result in creating chaos and discrimination against people who are simply seeking a better life in this country, that would be very disturbing," Biskupski said.

As the mayor of an increasingly diverse city that has a history of welcoming and supporting refugees, Biskupski noted that "Salt Lake City — including my office, personally — has benefitted greatly from the contributions of refugees who were able to settle here and pursue their dreams.”

Meanwhile, Natalie El-Deiry, deputy director of International Rescue Committee's Salt Lake office, which serves half of some 1,200 refugees ordinarily resettled in Utah each year, said the international nonprofit organization is reviewing the court's decision and "considering its immediate consequences to those we serve around the world and right here in Salt Lake City.

"We’re alarmed and concerned about this decision and the thousands of already vetted refugees who will be impacted.”

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President Donald Trump called the Supreme Court order "a clear victory for our national security."

The Refugee Justice League said the Supreme Court’s action allows a limited version of President Trump’s ban on travelers from six mostly Muslim countries to take effect. The nonprofit organization is made up of Utah lawyers and community leaders who volunteer their time and expertise to defend refugees' rights.

“Tragically, most refugees will be unable to enter the United States for the next 90 days under this opinion,” league co-founder James McConkie said in a statement.

“Our current vetting process is already very stringent, and unfortunately, this ruling will make it practically impossible for most refugees to seek safety in America, as they do not have a well-established contact within the country as required by the opinion.”

Trump's ban on visitors from Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen can be enforced if they lack a "credible claim of a bona fide relationship with a person or entity in the United States," according to the justices' order.

That means "the relationship must be formal, documented and formed in the ordinary course, not for the purpose of evading" the travel ban, the court said.

The opinion faulted the two federal appeals courts that had blocked the travel policy for going too far to limit Trump's authority over immigration.

"There was quite a bit of overreach by the lower courts," Paul Cassell, a former federal judge and current University of Utah law professor, said on KSL Newsradio's "The Doug Wright Show."

Cassell also noted that the decision was unanimous — a rare occurrence for the Supreme Court.

President Trump announced the travel ban shortly after he took office and revised it in March after setbacks in court.

Contributing: Annie Knox

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