Washington state seeks to challenge 3rd travel ban

Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson has asked the judiciary to lift stay halting the state’s case against President Donald Trump’s travel ban. The state said that lifting the stay will allow it to challenge the third and latest version of the ban before it takes effect later this month.Five other states — Oregon, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York and California — are also involved in the case.The filing says the states have talked with Trump administration lawyers and that they do not oppose lifting the stay. The Trump administration on Sept. 24 issued a proclamation outlining the most recent restrictions, which affect citizens of Chad, Iran, Libya, North Korea, Somalia, Syria and Yemen — and some Venezuelan government officials and their families. It’s scheduled to take effect Oct. 18. The new measures range from an indefinite ban on visas for citizens of Syria to more targeted limitations. Iranians, for example, will not be eligible for immigrant, tourism or business visas but remain eligible for student and cultural exchange visas if they undergo additional scrutiny.