Conway defended the ban in an interview with Fox News saying that it shouldn't be regarded as an administration failure even though it triggered mayhem at many airports, including the detention of travelers with legitimate papers. The adviser pointed out that the number of those detained at US airports was relatively small.
Conway emphasized that that is only 1 percent of those who arrived, and that this sacrifice is incomparable with the grief of the children whose parents were killed in the 9/11 attacks. (Most of the perpetrators of the 9/11 attacks were from Saudi Arabia, a country not among the seven whose nationals are currently banned.)
"I think in terms of the upside being greater protection of our borders, of our people, it's a small price to pay."
The top White House aide added that calling President Donald Trump's executive order a "Muslim ban" was wrong, as there are 46 other majority Muslim countries not included.
As for those detained upon arrival, she explained that their situations will be handled on a case-by-case basis via a routine screening process and if there is no threat, then they can expect to be released in due course.
Trump on Friday signed an executive order temporarily suspending immigration from seven predominantly Muslim countries: Iraq, Iran, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Libya and Yemen. The order also suspends the flow of Syrian refugees into the country and halts all refugee resettlement in the US for 120 days as the administration reviews the vetting process.
On Saturday, a federal judge in New York issued an emergency stay on implementation of Trump's order. In a tweet published several hours later, the US president signaled that he will fight to keep the order in place.
"Our country needs strong borders and extreme vetting, NOW," Trump said in the tweet. "Look what is happening all over Europe and, indeed, the world — a horrible mess!"
