(RNN) - The Trump administration Thursday night asked the Supreme Court to reinstate its travel ban blocking entry from six Muslim-majority countries.
The administration asked the nine justices to consider the legality of President Donald Trump's executive order, a move that appeals a ruling by the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals that upheld a nationwide halt to the ban, CNN reported. The appeals court said Trump's comments showed the policy was "steeped in animus and directed at a single religious group."
Earlier the Associated Press said that the high court will probably agree to intervene because of the importance of immigration, an area where courts have traditionally given presidents much leeway.
"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," Justice Department spokesperson Sarah Isgur Flores said.
"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 six countries are Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen.
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