President Trump's revised travel ban was put on hold Wednesday by a federal judge in Hawaii just hours before it was set to take effect after hearing arguments that the executive order discriminates on the basis of nationality. More than half a dozen states are trying to stop the ban, and federal courts in Maryland, Washington state and Hawaii heard arguments about whether it should be put into practice early Thursday. In Maryland, attorneys told a federal judge that the measure still discriminates against Muslims. In the Hawaii case, the federal government said there was no need to issue an emergency restraining order because Hawaii officials offered only "generalized allegations" of harm. Washington and Hawaii say the order also violates the First Amendment, which bars the government from favoring or disfavoring any religion.

Source: Fox News March 15, 2017 23:11 UTC