US judge exempts grandparents, other relatives from Trump's travel ban

HAWAII - A federal judge in Hawaii further relaxing President Donald Trump's travel ban on six Muslim countries has ruled that grandparents and other relatives of people living in the US cannot be stopped from entering the country, international media reported.

US District Judge Derrick Watson on Thursday directed the government to allow entry to grandparents, grandchildren, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins of people in the United States.

The judge said in his ruling, "Common sense, for instance, dictates that close family members be defined to include grandparents," adding, "Indeed grandparents are the epitome of close family members."

Trump slapped the ban on six Muslim countries, including  Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen through executive order on March 6 for 90 days. The ban was later suspended by the court.

In last month, the US Supreme Court revived the ban with a limited scope, allowing entry to those who have credible "bona fide relationship" with a US person or entity.

Following the decision, the Trump administration had exempted spouses, parents, children, fiances and siblings from the ban, but it had imposed ban on entry of grandparents, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, in-laws, extended family and grandchildren.