Trump defends travel ban, questions judges

President Donald Trump has slammed the court that is deliberating his immigration and refugee executive order for having motivations he describes as "so political."

Speaking to a group of police chiefs and sheriffs, Trump homed in on the language used in a provision detailing presidential powers to limit "inadmissible aliens."

The provision states that when a president finds that the entry of foreigners may be detrimental to US interests, the president may "suspend the entry of all aliens or any class of aliens as immigrants or nonimmigrants, or impose on the entry of aliens any restrictions he may deem to be appropriate."

"It was written beautifully," Trump told the attendees, asserting that even "a bad high school student would understand this."

"Courts seem to be so political and it would be so great for our justice system if they would be able to read a statement and do what's right," he added. "And that has to do with the security of our country, which is so important."

The 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals is weighing the appeal of Trump's executive order on immigration, which temporarily suspends the country's refugee program and bans travel for citizens of seven Muslim-majority countries.

In a hearing on Tuesday, judges on the appeals court challenged the administration's claim that the ban was motivated by terrorism fears, but also questioned arguments that it unconstitutionally targeted Muslims.

Trump later tweeted that there has been a "big increase in traffic into our country from certain areas, while our people are far more vulnerable."