White House predicts courts will reinstate travel ban

WASHINGTON — Rebuffed in its bid for a quick reversal, the White House says Sunday it expected the courts to reaffirm US President Donald Trump’s executive power and reinstate a ban on refugees and travelers from seven predominantly Muslim countries from entering the United States.

The case promises to extend into Monday at least, when fresh legal filings were due, and observers have no doubt the Supreme Court ultimately will have a say.

The San Francisco-based 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals, in a brief order overnight, denied the administration’s request to set aside a Seattle judge’s ruling that put a temporary hold on the ban nationwide.

The lawsuit by the states of Washington and Minnesota said Trump’s order harmed residents and effectively mandated discrimination. Their lawyers had until 2:59 a.m. EST Monday to submit briefs opposing the government’s request. The Justice Department then had a 6 p.m. EST deadline to respond.

“We’ll accomplish the stay and will win the case on the merits,” Vice President Mike Pence says.

— AP