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Irish-American judge stands up to Trump over immigration

US federal judge Ann Donnelly stood up to President Trump's immigration order
US federal judge Ann Donnelly stood up to President Trump's immigration order US federal judge Ann Donnelly stood up to President Trump's immigration order

THE US judge who stood up to US President Donald Trump's controversial immigration order has roots in counties Tyrone and Donegal.

Irish-American judge Ann Donnelly called a temporary halt to the deportation of visa holders or refugees stranded at airports after President Trump had issued an order barring entry to them for 90 days.

Mr Trump's executive order also halted the US refugee programme and instituted a 90-day travel ban for people born in Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen.

Travellers who were already en-route to the US were detained on arrival - even if they held valid US visas or other immigration permits.

Ms Donnelly, who was born in Detroit, was appointed as a federal judge by former US President Barack Obama in 2015.

Late on Saturday she ruled on a case brought on behalf of two Iraqi men with links to the US military who were detained at JFK Airport in New York. The men were later released.

Her order barred US border agents from removing anyone who arrived in the US with a valid visa from Iraq, Syria, Iran, Sudan, Libya, Somalia and Yemen and also covered anyone with an approved refugee application.

Cheers broke out in a crowd of demonstrators outside the court in Brooklyn as Ms Donnelly's decision was announced.

Irish-American news site Irish Central reported that Ms Donnelly had family links to both Tyrone and Donegal.