Trump administration asks U.S. Supreme Court to reinstate travel ban
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In a filing, the nine justices were asked to consider the executive order's legality in an appeal of a ruling by the 4th Circuit blocking the ban.
The justices include Neil Gorsuch, Trump's nominee who was confirmed by the Senate in April.
The Trump administration wants them to hear arguments on an expedited basis and to reinstate the executive order in the interim.
"We have asked the Supreme Court to hear this important case and are confident that President Trump's executive order is well within his lawful authority to keep the Nation safe and protect our communities from terrorism," said Justice Department spokesperson Sarah Isgur Flores.
"The president is not required to admit people from countries that sponsor or shelter terrorism, until he determines that they can be properly vetted and do not pose a security risk to the United States."
The lower court's May 25 ruling had said the policy was "steeped in animus and directed at a single religious group."
Trump's executive order barred entry into the United States for 90 days for residents of Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen. ■