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Sens. Carper and Coons join legislative bid to stall travel ban

Delaware Public Media

As a number of federal courts consider President Trump’s ban on immigrants from six majority Muslim countries - both of Delaware’s U.S. senators are joining a legislative effort to block his plan.

Senators Tom Carper (D-Delaware) and Chris Coons (D-Delaware) are co-sponsoring a bill that would cut all funding to any agency tasked with carrying out the Trump Administration’s travel ban.

The newest iteration of the ban blocks travelers from Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen.

The original executive order included Iraq on that list, but top officials asked that decision to be reconsidered to help fight the Islamic State.

Citizens of those countries cannot obtain new visas for 90 days. Refugees also won’t be accepted for 120 days, under the executive order.

Last week, a Wisconsin federal judge blocked enforcement of the order, but only as it applies to one Syrian family seeking asylum.

The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled against Trump’s first order in February, saying the government couldn’t prove the nation’s security was at risk under the current immigration system.