The Latest on reaction to a court order blocking U.S. President Donald Trump’s ban on travelers and immigrants from seven predominantly Muslim countries (all times local Saturday):
7:30 a.m. Washington
President Donald Trump isn’t happy that a federal judge has put on hold his executive order that applies to refugees and people from seven predominantly Muslim countries who want to enter the United States.
The White House has promised a quick appeal and Trump has taken to Twitter to vent his frustration with the ruling.
He says “the opinion of this so-called judge, which essentially takes law-enforcement away from our country, is ridiculous and will be overturned!”
Trump also tweets that “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!”
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3 p.m. Cairo
Etihad Airways says it will begin accepting U.S.-bound passengers from the seven previously banned countries this week.
The United Arab Emirates’ national carrier said Saturday its decision follows guidance from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection unit at its hub in Abu Dhabi.
The airline says it is monitoring developments in the U.S. and that passengers will be subject to screening measures in place before Trump’s executive order was issued.
U.S. border officials stationed in Abu Dhabi carry out passport and customs screenings before passengers board U.S.-bound flights under an existing pre-screening program.
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1:15 p.m. Cairo
The U.S. embassy in Baghdad says they are still awaiting guidance following news of a court order blocking President Trump’s ban on travelers from Iraq and six other predominantly Muslim countries.
“We don’t know what the effect will be, but we’re working to get more information,” the embassy told The Associated Press in a statement, adding that embassy staffers have received a large number of phone calls and inquiries from Iraqis eager to see if the visa restrictions had changed.
Iraq’s government spokesman says the prime minister’s office is also waiting for the “official position of the U.S. administration.”
In a largely symbolic move, the Iraqi parliament called for a reciprocity measure last week increasing pressure on the country’s government as it attempts to balance Iraq’s alliance with the U.S. and powerful Iraqi political blocks with close ties to Iran.
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10:40 a.m. Cairo
Qatar Airways has issued an advisory to passengers saying citizens of the seven Muslim-majority countries previously barred from entry who hold a valid U.S. visa or green card will be allowed to travel to the U.S.
The airline cited a directive by U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
Government-backed Qatar Airways is one of a handful of Mideast airlines operating direct daily flights to multiple American cities. Like other Gulf carriers, many of its customers are transit passengers whose journeys originated elsewhere.
Its U.S. destinations from its Doha hub include New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami and Washington.
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10:30 a.m. Cairo
Foreign airlines operating in Iran have instructed travel agencies not to sell U.S.-bound flight tickets to Iranians holding U.S. visas in the wake of President Donald Trump’s executive order banning visas for seven Muslim countries, including Iran.
The move comes even though a U.S. judge on Friday temporarily blocked the ban, siding with two states that urged a nationwide hold on the executive order that has launched legal battles across the country.
The directive does not come from U.S. airlines.
In Tehran, the Kowsar travel agency told The Associated Press they had been instructed by foreign airlines not to sell tickets to Iranians with visas to enter the U.S.
The agency said there was no problem for those who have a permanent resident card or a U.S. passport.
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