(Photo by Alex Edelman)

A federal judge granted a preliminary injunction last night blocking the travel ban in Virginia, adding another sharp rejoinder to the Trump administration.

“Maximum power does not mean absolute power,” writes Judge Leonie Brinkema in her opinion.

The injunction, in place until a trial is held on the order’s constitutionality, bars the administration from enforcing the ban in the commonwealth. An earlier ruling in the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals blocks the ban nationwide.

In arguing that the commonwealth would likely succeed in its case, Brinkema found that comments by the president and his advisers showed the executive order was motivated by an unconstitutional religious bias rather than “rational national security concerns.”

She noted that a “Muslim ban” was a key part of Trump’s campaign, and a press release calling for it remains on his website. Brinkema also cited comments by Rudy Giuliani that indicated that the order was meant to be a “legal way” for the president to impose such a ban.

While the commonwealth was able to prove harm—to the states universities and public colleges—the federal government failed to justify the order. In fact, Brinkmena writes, “ironically, the only evidence in this record concerning national security indicates that the [executive order] may actually make the country less safe.” A group of national security experts had stated for the record the order undermines the country’s safety.

“I saw this unlawful, unconstitutional and un-American ban for what it is, and I’m glad the court did too,” Virginia Attorney General Mark Herring said after the ruling.

The commonwealth joined the pre-existing Aziz v. Trump case, which centered on two Yemeni green card holders denied entry to the U.S. and apparently coerced into signing away their green cards at Dulles International Airport. The suit states as many as 60 others may have had similar experiences there.

Tareq and Ammar Aquel Mohammed Aziz are now in the U.S., but the suit in their name can continue to move forward.

Brinkmena’s ruling only applies to Virginia, but it is a more lasting injunction than the temporary restraining order issued in the Ninth Circuit.

Memorandum Opinion Trump v. Aziz by RachelSadon on Scribd