Trump’s travel ban allowed in full effect as legal challenges are weighed in courts

The Supreme Court gave President Donald Trump a significant victory on Monday, ruling he may put his full travel ban into effect while legal appeals are being weighed in lower courts.

The decision, with only two dissents, strongly suggests the justices believe the current version of Trump’s broad travel ban does not exceed his powers under the immigration laws and does not reflect unconstitutional religious discrimination against Muslims.

The justices issued an unsigned order Monday granting the administration’s request for a stay that would block lower court decisions that prevented full enforcement of the ban. Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Sonia Sotomayor said they would deny the request but did not spell out their reasons.

The court did not issue an opinion with the order, but usually the justices do not intervene in pending cases unless they believe the lower courts have gone wrong.

The decision vindicates a rather bold procedural move by the Justice Department and Trump’s lawyer general, Noel Francisco.