'What is our country coming to?' President Trump slams 'so-called judge' after travel ban ruling

Protests have taken place across the US over President Trump's travel ban. Credit: AP /Tony Dejak

US President Donald Trump has attacked a federal judge who granted a nationwide temporary restraining order against his travel ban on nationals from seven Muslim-majority countries.

Taking to Twitter, Trump slammed the "opinion of this so-called judge" and posed the question: "What is our country coming to when a judge can halt a Homeland Security travel ban?"

He said James Robart's ruling is "ridiculous and will be overturned", and wrote "many very bad and dangerous people may be pouring into our country. A terrible decision".

He also insisted when a country is unable to dictate who can come in and out of it they are in what he referred to as "big trouble".

On Friday, the Seattle District Judge ruled against government lawyers who argued that individual states did not have the right to challenge the directive.

The ruling is the broadest to date against the president's ban.

Protests have taken place across the US over President Trump's travel ban. Credit: AP /Tony Dejak

In a statement released by the Washington State Attorney General, Bob Ferguson, who brought the case, welcomed the decision and said: "The Constitution prevailed. No one is above the law - not even the President".

The temporary restraining order will stay in place until Judge Robart considers Mr Ferguson's lawsuit which claims key provisions in the travel ban are "illegal and unconstitutional".

If Mr Ferguson wins then the executive order will be permanently invalidated across the US.

The Department of Homeland Security said it will stop flagging travellers from certain countries targeted by the order, a spokeswoman said, in order to comply with the ruling.

The US Justice Department has said it intends to file an emergency stay against the Seattle judge's decision as soon as possible and the White House insisted the president's order is "lawful and appropriate".

Airlines have now been instructed to operate just as they had before theorder according to an official quoted by Reuters news agency.

He said that US Customs and Border Protection informed US airlines in a conference call that the court ruling meant that individuals from the seven countries, who have proper visas, can now board US-bound flights.

Qatar Airways is to let passengers barred by the order to board flights to the US. Credit: AP

Gulf carrier Qatar Airways has said it will allow passengers to hold a valid US visa or green card to board flights to the United States.

Air France also said it has re-opened their flights for visa holders fromstates covered by suspended travel ban.

Meanwhile, a spokesperson for British Airways said: "We always meet our obligations under international immigration agreements. All customers with the correct documentation will be accepted for travel."

Mr Trump's executive order, curtailing immigration from various nations, led to widespread protests and demonstrations.

The order brought into force a 120-day suspension of the US Refugee Admissions Programme with an indefinite ban on Syrian refugees.