THE U.S. Government on Saturday suspended enforcement of President Donald Trump’s refugee and immigration ban and scurried to appeal a judge’s order, plunging the new administration into a crisis that has challenged Trump’s authority — and ability to fulfill campaign promises.

    The stand-down, a day after a federal judge in Washington state temporarily blocked the ban, marked an extraordinary setback for the White House. One week ago, Trump had acted on his own to suspend America’s refugee program and halt immigration to the United States from seven Muslim-majority countries that the United States says raise terrorism concerns.

    As the White House worked to reinstate the ban, Trump mocked U.S. District Judge James Robart, appointed by former President George W. Bush, as a “so-called judge” whose “ridiculous” ruling “will be overturned.”

    “The opinion of this so-called judge, which essentially takes law-enforcement away from our country, is ridiculous and will be overturned,” Trump tweeted. “When a country is no longer able to say who can and who cannot come in & out, especially for reasons of safety & security – big trouble!”

    The order had caused unending confusion for many foreigners trying to reach the United States, prompted protests across the world and led to a series of court challenges.

    The U.S. State Department on Friday said as many as 60,000 foreigners from Iraq, Syria, Iran, Sudan, Libya, Somalia and Yemen had their visas canceled. The department reversed course Saturday, saying they could travel to the United States if they had a valid visa.

    The Homeland Security Department no longer is directing airlines to prevent visa-holders affected by Trump’s order from boarding U.S.-bound planes. The agency said it had “suspended any and all actions” related to putting in place Trump’s order, which the White House argued was “intended to protect the homeland.”

    A U.S. federal appeals court early yesterday rejected a request by the Department of Justice to immediately reinstate Trump’s travel ban.

    “Appellants’ request for an immediate administrative stay pending full consideration of the emergency motion for a stay pending appeal is denied,” the ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit said. It said a reply from the Justice Department in support of the emergency appeal was due today.

    Qatar Airways and Etihad Airways, national carrier of the United Arab Emirates, said U.S.-bound travelers from those countries with valid visas would be allowed to board. In Egypt, Cairo airport and airline officials said they had received instructions from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection to suspend Trump’s executive order.

    The executive order has caused chaos within the government and the courts since it was announced a week ago. Trump fired Sally Yates, an Obama administration holdover who was serving as acting attorney general, after she said the Justice Department would not enforce it. Hearings were held Friday in separate court challenges across the country. In their arguments to the court, Washington state and Minnesota said the temporary ban and the global suspension of the U.S. refugee program significantly harmed residents and effectively mandated discrimination. (SD-Agencies)