US Homeland Security Secretary: 'Immigration order is not a ban on Muslims'

The US Homeland Security Secretary said President Donald Trump's executive orders banning immigrants and refugees from seven Middle Eastern and African countries is "not a ban on Muslims".

Secretary John Kelly denied the orders were a "travel ban", instead describing it as a "temporary ban that allows us to better review the existing refugee and visa vetting system".

"This is not, I repeat not, a ban on Muslims," he said. "The Homeland Security mission is to safeguard the American people, our homeland, our values and religious liberty is one of our most fundamental and treasured values."

He said the analysis of the system is "long overdue" and "strongly supported" by department officials.

Kelly said that the ban will be in compliance with judicial orders and that the department will continue to enforce the measures "professionally, humanely and in accordance with the law".

He said: "Our job is to protect the homeland, these executive orders help do that."

Some of the seven countries affected by the immigration order will not likely be taken off the list any time soon, Kelly added.

Kevin McAleenan, of the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP), said 721 travellers with visas from the seven countries affected by the ban were barred from the country.

He said that 872 refugees were admitted due to hardship concerns despite the ban.