SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 3 (Xinhua) -- A civil rights advocacy group in Portland in the U.S. state of Oregon Sunday hailed a court order that temporarily blocked the Trump administration from enforcing a new policy against immigrants over healthcare issues.
The American Civil Liberties Union of Oregon (ACLU of Oregon), a Portland-based group that advocates civil rights, called the court order a "big win from Oregon advocates."
"VICTORY! A federal judge in Portland halted the Trump admin's latest attack on immigrants - a health care ban that would block 2/3 of all visa applicants," the group tweeted Sunday afternoon.
ACLU of Oregon's response came after Judge Michael Simon of the U.S. District Court in Portland issued a restraining order blocking the Trump administration from implementing a plan to require immigrants who apply for permanent resident card or green card to demonstrate their ability to buy health insurance or medical costs in the United States.
Under the new measure announced by President Donald Trump on Oct. 4, green card applicants who cannot show their healthcare coverage will be denied visas of entry or residence in the country. The new policy was originally set to take effect on Sunday.
"Continuing to allow entry into the United States of certain immigrants who lack health insurance or the demonstrated ability to pay for their healthcare would be detrimental to these interests," according to a proclamation signed by Trump last month.
The U.S. government's rule was challenged by Innovation Law Lab headquartered in Portland and Los Angeles-based Justice Action Center, which filed a lawsuit against it on Oct. 30, the Oregon Public Broadcasting (OPB) reported.
The OPB quoted an official of the Innovation Law Lab saying that about 65 percent of immigrants who apply for entry into the United States through its long-standing family-based immigration system would be shut out of the country if the rule is enforced.
