#TrumpTravelBan erupted on January 27, 2017, when President Trump signed Executive Order 13769, banning entry from seven Muslim-majority countries (Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Yemen) and suspending refugee admissions.
The order caused chaos at airports nationwide as travelers (including green card holders) were detained. Spontaneous protests erupted at JFK, SFO, LAX, and dozens of airports within hours.
ACLU lawyers rushed to airports to represent detainees; the organization raised $24 million online in one weekend (usually their annual total). Federal judges issued emergency stays blocking parts of the order.
Multiple legal challenges followed. The Supreme Court ultimately upheld a modified version (Presidential Proclamation 9645) in 2021’s Trump v. Hawaii (5-4 decision).
Sources:
- ACLU timeline: https://www.aclu.org/
- NPR coverage: https://www.npr.org/