Most white evangelicals back Trump's travel ban, says Pew poll

A recent survey conducted by the Pew Research Center has revealed that around three-quarters of white evangelicals approve of President Donald Trump's executive order prohibiting refugees and travel from Muslim-majority countries.

The results of the survey conducted earlier this month indicated that 76 percent of the respondents approve of the executive order, with 22 percent opposing it and two percent unsure.

In contrast, 84 percent of black Protestants and 74 percent of religious "nones" disapprove of the travel ban.

Among Catholics, 62 percent are opposed to the executive order. However, there are significant differences in opinion between white Catholics, who are evenly divided on the issue, and Hispanic Catholics, who overwhelmingly disapprove the restrictions on refugees and travel.

The study also noted that a majority of white evangelicals are concerned about Islamic extremism in the U.S. and around the world.

Three-quarters of white evangelical Protestants said that they were "very concerned" about extremism in the name of Islam around the world while 69 percent shared the same sentiments about extremism in the U.S.

Among religious "nones," 32 percent said that they were "very concerned" about Islamic extremism around the world while 27 percent felt the same way about extremism in the U.S.

Overall, 59 percent of Americans are opposed to the travel ban. Trump's approval ratings have also sunk to the lowest of any recent president during the same period in their first term. Only 39 percent generally approve of the president's performance while 56 percent disapprove.

The Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the temporary suspension on Trump's executive order earlier this month as litigation proceeds. The court ruled that there was no credible national security threat posed by refugees and other immigrants from the countries listed in the order.

Critics of the travel ban have argued that the ban discriminates against citizens of certain countries and the Muslim religion. They cited a 1965 law that prohibits discrimination against immigrants based on their country of origin. Additionally, they claim that it violates the establishment clause of the Constitution that protects freedom of religion.

Trump is preparing to issue a new version of the executive order on immigration this week, according to USA Today. He said that it would be "very much tailored" to the court decisions that suspended the travel ban.