PA’s AG joins 15 others to challenge Trump travel ban
AGs from New York, California, Massachusetts, and 12 other states jointly filed the brief. (Photo by Katie Meyer/WITF)
(Harrisburg) – Pennsylvania’s attorney general is taking a hard stance against President Donald Trump’s ban on travel from seven majority-Muslim nations.
Newly elected AG Josh Shapiro said the commonwealth was one of the leaders in filing an amicus brief in an existing lawsuit opposing Trump’s executive order.
The brief is intended to strengthen federal lawsuits already filed by Washington State and Minnesota.
Pennsylvania and 15 other states’ attorneys general are arguing states have legal authority to challenge the ban because it does measurable harm to their economies and residents.
Specifically, they’re calling for federal judges to deny Trump’s motion to overturn the stay that’s temporarily halting his executive order.
“We believe this executive order has unleased global chaos,” Shapiro explained.
The AGs involved in the filing are all Democrats, but Shapiro maintained this is an issue that transcends party lines.
“This should not be viewed through the prism of politics, rather this should be viewed through the prism of standing up and protecting the rule of law, and standing up and doing what we think is just,” he said.
Democratic Governor Tom Wolf has said he supports the move.
The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals is slated to hear oral arguments in the case Tuesday.
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