Yesterday, the Supreme Court heard oral arguments in a challenge to the legality of President Trump’s third Travel Ban. During the argument, three Justices asked questions expressing deep skepticism about the functionality of the waiver “system” put into place by the ban.
During this discussion, the amicus brief filed by Pars Equality Center, IABA and PAAIA was explicitly referenced. Justice Breyer questioned Solicitor Francisco about whether the waiver system is “just window dressing” and referred to our Pars Equality Center brief. Picking up on this theme, Justice Sotomayor expressed similar concern, asking Solicitor Francisco, “what are you personally doing to represent to us that it is, in fact, a real waiver process?” Justice Ginsburg, too, asked about a specific case cited in Pars Equality Center brief of a 10-year-old with cerebral palsy who had been denied a waiver and cannot enter the United States for medical treatment.
The amicus brief can be read HERE.
The amicus brief is a continuation of advocacy in the Pars Equality Center et al v. Trump et al litigation in D.C. district court, in which Pars Equality Center – in collaboration with IABA and PAAIA – and over 25 individuals have challenged President Trump’s first, second, and third Travel Bans.