WASHINGTON _ The White House again insisted Tuesday that the courts will ultimately find that President Donald Trump's travel ban is constitutional, making its case hours before a hearing that could determine whether the administration can resume enforcement of the directive.
Press secretary Sean Spicer defended what he said was the president's "immediate and decisive action" to suspend travel from seven mostly Muslim nations "to make sure that this country and our people are protected."
"That's what he's talking about, is making sure that we don't have any regret ... that we haven't done something to protect people," Spicer said, citing existing law that grants a president broad authority to suspend immigration in the event of a potential threat.
Spicer reminded reporters at his daily briefing that the three-judge panel on the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals would not issue a decision on whether the president's executive order conflicts with other constitutional protections, but rather whether to strike down a lower court ruling temporarily suspending the enforcement of it.
Spicer noted that administration had been successful in a similar effort in a Boston case.
"There, once we were able to explain our position, the court lifted the order and held that the president's executive order could take effect," he said. "We look forward to a final decision on the merits of this soon."
Spicer also denied that Trump was seeking to undermine judicial independence when the president tweeted over the weekend about the legal proceedings. Trump referred at one point to the "so-called judge" who had granted the restraining order at issue in today's 9th Circuit hearing.
"There's no question the president respects the judicial branch and its ruling," Spicer said. But, "I don't think there's any other way that you can interpret that, that the president has the discretion to do what's necessary to keep this country safe."
