US' Pence says new immigrant travel ban imminent

US Vice-President Mike Pence has said that Donald Trump's administration is putting the "final touches" to the introduction of a new immigrant travel ban, after the last effort was blocked in court.

Several lawsuits were brought against an executive order signed by Trump in the first week of his presidency, which attempted to implement a ban on incoming travellers from seven predominantly Muslim countries.

But Pence confirmed on Wednesday during an interview with CBS that it will only be a matter of days before the administration introduces an adapted travel ban, while it will also continue to fight the courts' decision.

"The president is just determined to not only defend the first executive order in the courts, which we continue to believe is fully within his purview and his presidential authority, but also to take that authority that is undisputed in the law with a new executive order," Pence said.

"They're putting out the finishing touches on that executive order. It should be out in the next few days," he added.

Suggestions from the executive so far make it likely that the new ban will not apply to permanent legal residents in the US, and may also exclude at least one of the seven countries included in the first temporary ban.

Trump's ban affected Iran, Iraq, Syria, Yemen, Somalia, Sudan, and Libya.

Pence also praised the performance of Trump after his speech during a joint session of the US Congress on Tuesday, in which the President appeared more measured than previous public appearances.

"This was all him. The president stepped up and told America where he wants to go and many Americans said yes," Pence said.