'It's not a Muslim ban': Trump defends controversial executive order on refugees

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Associated Press/Alex Brandon

President Donald Trump speaks before signing an executive action in the Oval Office at the White House, Saturday, Jan. 28, 2017 in Washington.

President Donald Trump on Saturday defended his executive order barring travelers from seven Muslim-majority countries from entering the US.

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"It's not a Muslim ban," Trump told reporters in the Oval Office as he signed several executive orders.

"It's working out very nicely. You see it at the airports, you see it all over."

Trump's order halted refugee arrivals into the United States for 120 days, and barred citizens of Iraq, Iran, Sudan, Libya, Somalia, and Yemen for 90 days.

The order caused chaos and confusion at airports across the country on Saturday, as refugees and even permanent residents of the United States were detained by border agents.

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Lawyers have already filed legal challenges to Trump's order, arguing it is "unconstitutional" and "a violation of international law."

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