Supreme Court: Trump admin can temporarily continue travel ban

Sept. 12 (UPI) -- The Supreme Court granted the Trump administration's request Tuesday to continue enforcing travel restrictions that prohibit some refugees from six Muslim-majority countries.

At least five justices signed off on the decision after Justice Anthony Kennedy granted an emergency request on behalf of the Justice Department to allow the ban until the Supreme Court can decide its long-term legality.

Hearings for that decision are expected to begin Oct. 10.

The travel policy puts restrictions on approximately 24,000 people from Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen from entering the United States, despite assurances from sponsors.

A panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit has objected to the travel restriction, which led to the legal fight between the Trump administration and opponents of the policy.

Although the government will be allowed to continue enforcing the controversial policy, the question of whether it will become permanent will have to wait until at least next month.

"Although it may be tempting to see the order as a harbinger of how the court is likely to rule on the merits, it's better understood as a very modest procedural step to stabilize the full scope of the injunctions against the travel ban over the next four weeks," Steve Vladeck, professor of law at the University of Texas School of Law, told CNN.