As far as I understand it, the federal judge stays only apply to those already in the states on legal visas, keeping them from being deported/detained. They can't do anything about those trying to get in (for the time being). Them issuing the stays is only the first part of the process (if they want to declare the entire executive order unconstitutional), it will have to go to the supreme court before anything can be determined or overturned.

And I'm not surprised he "fired" Sally Yates, she was a holdover from the Obama administration, which he was only keeping until his guy could be selected. So technically, he just terminated what was already a temporary position.

It's not an unanswered question; it's illegal. Question is, who can enforce their views faster, and get away with it?
I'm so upset over all of this, and I have to pretend to be strong at home because the Elders are panicking even worse. At this three of them have packed panic-bags and are talking about escaping to Canada while they still can, and it's just...
I don't even know what to do any longer.

I'm so scared.

Keeping out people with valid visas maybe, but stopping immigration from everyone else, really isn't illegal. There's nothing to be afraid of and Canada isn't just letting anyone/everyone in. After everyone threatened to flee there during the presidential race, they tightened their borders as well.

The judges have issued stays barring deportations. The problem is that people have been deported anyway. There was also a ruling that said people detained at Dulles airport had to be allowed contact with their attorneys, which they were not allowed to have. Other people have been tricked into surrendering their visas and green cards. https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/201 ... green-card

Some lawyers have been asking the judges to declare CBP in contempt of court, but the problem is no one knows what would happen if the courts sent in US Marshals to force Customs and Border Protection to let the lawyers talk to their clients. The Marshals are judicial branch, CBP is executive branch. That's where the constitutional crisis part comes in.

While Trump is within his rights to fire the Acting Attorney General, the act still raises serious ethical questions. She made her decision not to defend the EO because of numerous statements Trump, his administration and his advisors have made claiming that the ban targets Muslims explicitly, which is illegal under the Constitution and under treaty law and international law. See Rudy Guiliani's statement that he was instructed by Trump to find a legal basis for a Muslim ban. The EO also grants priority to Christian refugees, another basis for the interpretation that the ban discriminates against Muslims. The US embassy in Israel is claiming that the ban does not apply to some 50,000 Jews from the 7 countries mentioned in the ban, despite the fact that exemption is not mentioned in the EO itself. I'm not sure if they're telling the truth or if that exemption would be recognized at the border, but it still suggests that the EO is intended to discriminate against Muslims.

The office of legal review, which is supposed to check executive orders before they are signed, does not consider intent during its process. But courts of law do consider intent, and so the Acting AG made her decision based on the stated intent of the ban. Attorney Generals are supposed to be independent from the president, though that is more of a norm and is not written in law.

And those of us with family and friends in the 7 countries DO have reason to be afraid, we ARE afraid. One of my schoolmates was detained at the border, along with two professors from my university. Luckily the university system was able to communicate with the governor and the ACLU to get them to safety before they were forced onto a plane back out of the country, but it was a close thing.

Wow so it seems there isn't much that can be done. It's understandable people might not know what to do. And I know stopping someone from speaking to their attorney is against the law, but in this case I have no idea how that would work. Just know it's really screwed up and I feel so bad for everyone involved. To me the law would and should work but in this case I know it's gonna be hard. And I so hope things can get fixed even though I have no idea on how or what. I just hope something good happens and 45 is punished so the people of the world doesn't have to deal with this for 4yrs and who knows how long afterward.

That's the thing about the "rule of law." It works, right up until someone says "You and what army and I have the army"

Norms and traditions aren't easily broken, until they are. And then, all of a sudden, it seems really, really easy to break them.

There's some leeway here...

12:50 p.m. Tuesday:

A senior U.S. official says 872 refugees will be allowed into the United States this week despite the Trump administration executive order suspending the U.S. refugees program.

Kevin McAleenan, acting commissioner of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency, said these refugees would be granted waivers. He said that was allowed for under the order, in instances where refugees were ready for travel and stopping them would cause "undue hardship."

McAleenan said this was being done in concert with the State Department. He said 872 refugees will be arriving this week and will processed for waivers through the end of the week.

This order effects over 90,000 people worldwide. I mean, I'm happy for any kind of leeway, but the order should never have been signed in the first place.

Can't turn back time, I was just sharing a bit of good news in a sea of negativity.

That's true.