Donald Trump's travel ban 'likely to be upheld' by US Supreme Court

Donald Trump’s travel ban is likely to be upheld by the US Supreme Court after conservative judges showed support for the president’s controversial plans.

Those challenging the ban will most likely need the support of Chief justice John Roberts and Justice Anthony Kennedy if the court is to strike down the policy.

But neither appeared receptive to arguments made by lawyer Neal Katyal, representing the ban's opponents, that Trump's rule stems from his campaign pledge to keep Muslims out of the country.

It comes after the justices in December allowed the ban, which Mr Trump first imposed by executive order as one his first moves as leader, to take full effect despite an on-going legal fight.

The US leader's plans, which Mr Trump will hope survive the ongoing Supreme Court review, were heard for the first time in open court on Wednesday.

The court is now considering the third version of the travel ban, which bars or limits entry to citizens of five Muslim-majority countries – Iran, Libya, Somalia, Syria and Yemen – as well as North Korea.

Human rights groups and other critics have branded Mr Trump’s proposals as an unmistakable attempt to make good on his campaign pledge to ban all Muslims from entering the US.

Since then, lower courts have struck down three version of the travel ban, declaring it discriminatory on the basis of nationality and religion.