Several attorneys general complained Wednesday that President Donald Trump's temporary ban on immigration from certain countries will hurt their states' universities, hospitals, and tourism dollars.
NBC News reports that attorneys general from 16 states and the District of Columbia filed a brief that asked the U.S. 4th Circuit Court of Appeals to keep in place a federal court ruling that stopped the immigration order.
The officials called Trump's order a ban on Muslims, although the administration insisted it is simply a pause in immigration from six countries with a terror presence. Many residents of those countries, however, are Muslim.
USA Today reported last month that Trump's travel order could cost the U.S. $18 billion in lost tourism money over the next two years.
Trump signed his first executive order on immigration in January shortly after taking office, but that was shot down by federal judges. He signed a revised order on March 6, which was also blocked.
Based in Richmond, Va., the U.S. 4th Circuit Court of Appeals will hear oral arguments about allowing the executive order to go through on May 8.