The 'Muslim ban': from the Jan. 27, 2017 executive order and airport chaos to the Supreme Court's 5-4 ruling in Trump v. Hawaii (June 26, 2018)

Case

On Jan. 27, 2017 Trump signed an order barring entry for citizens of seven mostly Muslim-majority countries and halting refugee admissions, triggering airport protests and a series of court blocks; revised orders followed in March and Sept. 2017. On June 26, 2018 the Supreme Court ruled 5-4 in Trump v. Hawaii, with Chief Justice Roberts writing, that the September 2017 version was lawful; Justice Sotomayor's dissent said it let a policy advertised as targeting Muslims stand, and compared the ruling to Korematsu.

Timeline and ruling
On Jan. 27, 2017 Trump signed an executive order immediately barring entry for citizens of Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen, halting the refugee program for 120 days and indefinitely barring Syrian refugees; protests erupted at airports after people were detained on arrival.
Federal judges in New York, Boston, Seattle and Virginia blocked parts of the order between Jan. 28 and Feb. 13, 2017; a Virginia judge found religious bias, and the Ninth Circuit unanimously upheld the suspension on Feb. 9.
A revised order on March 6, 2017 removed Iraq and exempted permanent residents and current visa holders; judges in Hawaii and Maryland blocked it and the Fourth Circuit blocked the ban on May 25.
On June 26, 2017 the Supreme Court let a limited version take effect; on Sept. 24, 2017 Trump issued a new proclamation that expanded the list of restricted countries.
On June 26, 2018 the Supreme Court ruled 5-4 in Trump v. Hawaii (No. 17-965), with Chief Justice Roberts writing, that the September 2017 order was lawful and reversing the lower court's injunction.
Challengers cited Trump's campaign call for a 'total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States' and a campaign official's reference to a 'Muslim ban' shortly after the inauguration.
Justice Sotomayor, joined by Justice Ginsburg, dissented, saying the Court let a policy openly advertised as targeting Muslims stand behind national-security concerns and comparing the decision to Korematsu; Justice Breyer, joined by Justice Kagan, also dissented.

Perspectives

Official position — Trump administration and the Supreme Court majority
The administration presented the restrictions as a national-security measure to protect the country from terrorism, and the 5-4 Supreme Court majority led by Chief Justice Roberts held that the final September 2017 version was lawful. The restricted list was not limited to Muslim-majority countries.

Legal view — Justice Sonia Sotomayor (dissent)
Sotomayor wrote that the Court let a policy openly advertised as targeting Muslims stand on a national-security rationale and compared the ruling to Korematsu. Lower courts, including a Virginia judge in Feb. 2017, had found religious bias.

Note
The administration called it a national-security measure; challengers cited Trump's campaign call for a 'total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States.' The Supreme Court majority upheld the final version.

Sources
[1] SCOTUSblog — Opinion analysis: Divided court upholds Trump travel ban (https://www.scotusblog.com/2018/06/opinion-analysis-divided-court-upholds-trump-travel-ban/) · 2018-06-26
[2] Fox News — Trump travel ban: Timeline of a legal journey (https://www.foxnews.com/politics/trump-travel-ban-timeline-of-a-legal-journey.amp) · 2018-06-26

Connections

Related — Immigration enforcement and the immigrant workforce (2025-2026)
First-term entry restrictions precede the second term's immigration enforcement.

Same context — The 2018 'zero tolerance' family-separation policy: more than 3,000 separations and a Justice Department inspector general finding of failed preparation (Apr.-June 2018; report Jan. 2021)
First-term immigration and border policies that drew court challenges.

Same context — Trump's public attacks on judges and justices over rulings, 2016-2026
Trump's 'so-called judge' remark in 2017 came after a judge blocked the travel ban.