US Supreme Court reinstates 'most of' Donald Trump's travel ban

Mr Trump's travel ban will largely be allowed to go ahead Credit: AP

The US Supreme Court has handed President Donald Trump a partial victory on his controversial travel ban, allowing the administration to enforce a large part of it ahead of a final decision later this year.

The court overturned lower court orders blocking the ban - which imposes a 90-day suspension on travellers from six mostly Muslim countries - but left one class of applicant protected.

The ban will apply to citizens of Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen, but those with relatives in the US who want to travel there will be exempt.

In the court's words, those "with a credible claim of a bona fide relationship with a person or entity in the United States" will not be subject to the ban.

Mr Trump welcomed the court's decision, saying it was a "clear victory for out national security" and that it would allow his administration "to use an important tool for protecting" the US.

Mr Trump said last week that the ban would take effect 72 hours after being cleared by courts.

His administration insists the ban will allow time for an internal review of the screening procedures for visa applicants from those countries.

The justice will hear arguments in the case in October, by which time the review may have been completed.