AKIPRESS.COM - The White House has asked the US Supreme Court to reinstate a travel ban on people from majority Muslim countries.

The ban has been blocked by lower courts which have said that it is discriminatory, BBC News reported.

Two emergency applications have now been filed by the government with the court's nine justices that seek to overturn those lower court rulings.

The controversial ban has prompted protests and debate across the US.

"We have asked the Supreme Court to hear this important case and are confident that President Trump's executive order is well within his lawful authority to keep the nation safe and protect our communities from terrorism," said Justice Department spokeswoman Sarah Isgur Flores.

"The president is not required to admit people from countries that sponsor or shelter terrorism, until he determines that they can be properly vetted and do not pose a security risk to the United States."

The administration has asked the court to grant emergency requests that would see the travel ban reinstated immediately. That ruling could come within two weeks.

The court will then decide whether to hear the administration's full appeal. If it does, that could take place in October.