Local immigration lawyers say questions remain about portions of the president’s temporary ban on travel from six majority-Muslim countries, reinstated this week by the U.S. Supreme Court.
The Supreme Court is set to take up a legal challenge to the ban in October. In the meantime, people from countries such as Iran and Syria will need what the court calls a “credible” tie to America to begin a visa application.
Peter Margulies, who teaches immigration law at Roger Williams University Law School, said proving exactly what constitutes that close relationship, other than direct family or business, will be complicated.
“The tougher cases involve people who have more tenuated relationships to the U.S. So the court said you have to have a close relationship,” Margulies explained. “Some of those people probably won’t make the cut, but where exactly the line is may require some further decision making down the line.”
Margulies added there remains a chance the Supreme Court would deem the case moot when it receives it, as the current travel ban could expire by October.
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