World's Airlines Are Told It's Back to Business as Usual for US-Bound Travelers in Wake of Judge's Order

The 60,000 visas canceled under the order are now valid.

ByABC News
February 4, 2017, 1:17 PM

— -- Airlines around the world are being told that it's business as usual regarding people's entry into the United States from the seven countries covered by President Trump's executive order on immigration and refugees.

The International Air Transport Association, which represents 265 airlines in 117 countries, sent a message to its members Saturday informing them that in light of a federal judge's block of the immigration order, airlines should follow practices in effect prior to the executive action.

The 60,000 visas canceled under President Trump's executive order are now again valid following a federal judge's temporary blocking of the executive action, the U.S. State Department said Saturday.

The provisional revocation of visas under the executive order has been reversed, and individuals with visas affected the executive action may now travel if the visa remains otherwise valid, the State Department said.

The federal Department of Homeland Security has also stopped implementing the key parts of the immigration order that a U.S. judge in Washington state put under a temporary restraining order Friday, the Homeland Security Department announced Saturday morning.

"In accordance with the judge's ruling, DHS has suspended any and all actions implementing the affected sections of the Executive Order," the department's acting press secretary Gillian Christensen said. "This includes actions to suspend passenger system rules that flag travelers for operational action ... DHS personnel will resume inspection of travelers in accordance with standard policy and procedure."

Christiansen added that the Trump administration will seek an emergency halt to the judge's order as soon as possible.

"The Department of Justice intends to file an emergency stay of this order and defend the President's Executive Order, which is lawful and appropriate," the Homeland Security spokesperson said. "The Order is intended to protect the homeland and the American people, and the President has no higher duty and responsibility than to do so."

PHOTO: Solicitor General Noah Purcell speaks to the press with Washington state Attorney General Bob Ferguson (R) at a press conference outside U.S. District Court, Western Washington, on Feb. 3, 2017 in Seattle, Washington.
Solicitor General Noah Purcell speaks to the press with Washington state Attorney General Bob Ferguson (R) at a press conference outside U.S. District Court, Western Washington, on Feb. 3, 2017 in Seattle, Washington.

The government response comes after U.S. District Judge James Robart in Seattle issued a nationwide restraining order Friday blocking parts of the executive action that temporarily bars some immigrants and refugees from seven predominantly Muslim countries.

ABC News' Daniel Steinberger contributed to this report.