Trump's order to move 12 transgender women to male jails is being blocked by the judge.

 

A dozen transgender women inmates have been prevented from being transferred to men's facilities by a US federal judge, in violation of President Donald Trump's executive order.

Trump had decreed the end of diversity programs and LGBTQ protections following his inauguration in January, notably ordering authorities to ensure that “males are not detained in women’s prisons.”

The transgender women inmates filed a lawsuit to prevent the government from implementing the order as they were worried about losing their medical care due to their gender identity.

The transfer of three transgender women inmates was stopped by US District Judge Royce Lamberth this month, and he extended the injunction to nine more on Monday.

“The same reasoning from the Court’s original TRO Order [ECF No. 23] still applies, with nothing in the record to compel a different outcome,” Lamberth said in the ruling seen by AFP.

He cited the Eighth Amendment, which bars cruel and unusual punishment, in his decision.

“Summarily removing the possibility of housing the plaintiffs in a women’s facility, when that was determined to be the appropriate facility under the existing constitutional and statutory regime, demonstrates a likelihood of success on the merits of the plaintiff’s Eighth Amendment claim,” he said.