Breaking: Judge issues key decision on Trump's travel ban — here's what he ruled

A judge ruled that a lawsuit against President Donald Trump's travel ban on immigration from terrorist-stricken countries can continue, defying the president.

San Francisco Judge James Donato denied the request from the administration that he dismiss the lawsuit on the basis that visa decisions by the executive are beyond judicial review from the judiciary. Donato disagreed.

Department of Justice attorney August Flentje argued the case for the administration.

Trump often spoke about a ban on Muslims entering the country before he was elected, but after he won the presidency, the focus shifted to a travel ban on persons from terror-stricken countries, which were defined during the Obama administration.

"The goal is not to indefinitely block people from coming to our country," explained a senior administration official in September 2017. "The goal is to protect Americans until foreign governments comply with our standards and no longer pose a risk to our people."

The ban has faced many legal challenges, and the administration has changed the substance of the order several times in order to thwart those challenges.

In December 2017, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals struck down the ban on the basis that it was unconstitutional, and cited the statements from the president prior to the election to support their decision. They cited a promise from Trump to enforce a "total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States."

In June, the Supreme Court overturned that ruling and said the travel ban was constitutional. Justice Sonia Sotomayor wrote the dissenting opinion, wherein she accused her colleagues of "ignoring the facts, misconstruing our legal precedent, and turning a blind eye to the pain and suffering the Proclamation inflicts upon countless families and individuals, many of whom are United States citizens."

The president signed the original order on the travel ban in January 2017.

He blamed political correctness for the inability of government to implement a stronger travel ban and prevent terrorist attacks in the United States.

"The travel ban into the United States should be far larger, tougher and more specific-but stupidly, that would not be politically correct!" he tweeted.