Updated February 11, 2017 11:18:02
US President Donald Trump says he is considering issuing a new travel ban executive order, while the White House says an appeal to the Supreme Court over the ban is still possible.
The White House statement was an about-face on earlier comments, after an official said the administration did not plan to escalate a legal dispute to the Supreme Court.
Mr Trump's original order restricting refugees and citizens of seven Muslim-majority countries from entering the United States was put on hold by a federal judge in Seattle last week with a temporary restraining order, and the suspension upheld by an appeals court in San Francisco on Thursday.
During a surprise visit with reporters aboard Air Force One en route to Florida from Washington Mr Trump said he was considering "a brand new order" that could be issued as soon as Monday or Tuesday if the administration decides to move in that direction.
The President said a new executive order would likely change "very little" from the first.
While a White House official initially suggested the administration would not ask the Supreme Court to overturn that order, chief of staff Reince Priebus later said they were considering all options, including a High Court appeal.
"Every single court option is on the table, including an appeal of the Ninth Circuit decision on the TRO (temporary restraining order) to the Supreme Court, including fighting out this case on the merits," Mr Priebus said.
"And, in addition to that, we're pursuing executive orders right now that we expect to be enacted soon that will further protect Americans from terrorism."
Mr Priebus said the administration was also considering "fighting out this case on the merits" in a lower court.
Meanwhile, a US federal appeals court asked the Justice Department and the state of Washington to submit briefs on whether a larger panel of judges should decide if Mr Trump's travel ban should remain on hold.
Reuters/AP
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