Donald Trump’s revised travel ban would “have the same basic policy outcome” as the initial version, according to a senior White House adviser.
Stephen Miller said the new order would be “responsive to the judicial ruling” that blocked the original order, adding that it would contain “minor technical differences” to the original directive.
“Fundamentally you’re going to have the same basic policy outcome for the country,” he told Fox News.
His comments appear to indicate that the new order would once again bar travel to the US for citizens from seven predominantly Muslim countries – Iran, Iraq, Syria, Yemen, Somalia, Sudan and Libya.
The original order prompted widespread confusion and sparked mass protests and confusion at airports.
Mr Miller – who played a key role in the initial drafting of it – also insisted that US court rulings which halted the original order were “flawed” and “erroneous” and that Mr Trump's action was “clearly legal and constitutional.”
The Court of Appeal suggested the order be redrafted so it did not risk violating the US constitution, which forbids discrimination on the grounds of religion.
Mr Miller has previously said the President would not back down to the courts on his “extreme vetting” policy.
The new executive order is reportedly expected to make clear that green card holders – immigrants with an indefinite right to live in the US – are exempt from the ban.
"The President is contemplating releasing a tighter, more streamlined version of the first executive order," Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly said at the Munich Security Conference at the weekend.
He added that officials are working on a "phase in" period to help avoid confusion at airports seen after Mr Trump's first immigration directive.
