The US justice department has defended President Donald Trump’s travel ban and urged an appeals court to reinstate it in the interests of national security.
A 15-page brief argued it was a “lawful exercise of the president’s authority” and not a ban on Muslims.
The executive order temporarily banned entry for all refugees and visitors from seven mainly Muslim countries.
A hearing has been set for Tuesday on whether to allow or reject the ban.
The filing was made to the San Francisco-based 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals in response to the halting of Mr Trump’s order on Friday by a federal judge in Washington state.
The judge had argued the ban was unconstitutional and harmful to the state’s interests.
As a result, people from the seven countries – Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen – with valid visas were able to travel to the US again.
