The Latest: Appeals Court Sets Hearing In Travel Ban Case

ALEXANDRIA, Va. (AP) — The Latest on challenges to President Donald Trump's proposed travel ban (all times local): 11:30 a.m. A federal appeals court will hear arguments in May in a challenge to President Donald Trump's revised travel ban targeting six predominantly Muslim countries. The Richmond, Virginia-based 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has set a hearing for May 8 to consider the Trump administration's appeal of a federal judge in Maryland's ruling that prohibited the enforcement of the travel ban nationwide. The Maryland ruling and a separate ruling in Hawaii were victories for civil liberties groups and advocates for immigrants and refugees, who argued that Trump's temporary ban on travel from six predominantly Muslim countries violated the Constitution. The Trump administration argued that the revised executive order was intended to protect the United States from terrorism. ___ 11:00 a.m. A federal judge in Virginia has ruled against a Muslim civil-rights group that sought to block the Trump administration's proposed travel ban. At a hearing earlier this week, Judge Anthony Trenga questioned whether an injunction was necessary, given the fact that judges in Hawaii and Maryland have already blocked the vast majority of the executive order from taking effect. The judge's decision, issued Friday in federal court in Alexandria, is even more sweeping in support of the administration.