Background: Back in late June, the US Supreme Court issued an opinion that reinstated the “travel ban” set out in one of President Trump’s executive orders. Hawaii and a few other states went back to the same activist and compliant judge who had invalidated the ban SCOTUS reinstated and he predictably flip-flopped, ruling that the ban was too stringent. The Department of Justice appealed directly to the Supreme Court. Today the Court handed down its ruling.

The Supreme Court on Wednesday allowed the Trump administration to enforce its refu­gee ban for now, but said it must allow broader exemptions to the president’s travel ban for family members, including grandparents.

The justices in a short order refused the administration’s request that it stay a lower court’s decision that said the Trump administration had too severely interpreted the court’s decision last month about exempting those with close family relationships.

The justices on Wednesday said the government’s appeal of the lower court should go through normal channels, with the next stop at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit.

The justices did stay a part of the lower court’s ruling, and said that it could enforce a refu­gee ban for now.

The ruling was 6-3 with Gorsuch, Alito, and Thomas voting in favor of kicking the Hawaii judge’s ruling to the curb.

What this means is that extended family of US citizens and legal residents will be processed for visas. It also means that the ruling of the Hawaii judge that students, refugees, etc., had to be admitted was stayed.

The next step is waiting for the Ninth Circus to rule.