Judge to Hear Arguments on Trump's WeChat Restrictions

By Sebastian Herrera

A California federal judge will hear arguments Friday as part of an emergency push to delay enforcement of an executive order placing restrictions on the app WeChat.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Laurel Beeler ruled Friday that a preliminary injunction on enforcing the order was moot because the Commerce Department detailed what transactions would be restricted on WeChat. The executive order, which President Trump signed Aug. 6 and is set to take effect Sunday, seeks to bar people in the U.S. or subject to U.S. jurisdiction from engaging in transactions with WeChat amid national-security concerns.

The U.S. WeChat Users Alliance, a nonprofit organization, sued the Trump administration in August to block the app from being restricted in the U.S. The group has said it isn't affiliated with the app's owner, Tencent Holdings Ltd.

Attorneys representing the alliance couldn't immediately be reached for comment.

Write to Sebastian Herrera at Sebastian.Herrera@wsj.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

September 18, 2020 13:47 ET (17:47 GMT)

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