A Texas congressman has joined calls for Donald Trump to be impeached for allegedly “exceeding his constitutional authority” with a temporary ban on refugees and immigration from seven Muslim-majority countries.

Joaquin Castro, a Democrat serving in the House of Representatives questioned whether the new President had instructed the US Customs and Border Protection agency (CBP) to disregard court orders against his executive order.

“If Pres. Trump ordered CBP to ignore a judicial order he should be censured as a warning. If he does it again Congress should remove him,” Mr Castro wrote on Twitter.

“I have tremendous respect for the presidency but our Republic cannot tolerate a President who ignores direct judicial orders.#checksbalances”

Donald Trump sacks acting attorney general over immigration ban

He is one of a number of Democrats calling for Congress to investigate whether Mr Trump “intentionally exceeded his constitutional authority” to implement the temporary ban, which has sparked global protests.

Many demonstrators have called for Mr Trump to be impeached, but the prospect looks almost impossible with his Republican Party in control of both the House of Representatives and Senate.

Both houses would have to vote on the move, with the US Constitution requiring a simple majority in the House to impeach a President for “treason, bribery, or other high crimes or misdemeanours”.

To be removed from office, he or she must be convicted by the Senate by a two-thirds vote. Congressional elections will be held in 2018, when Democrats will be hoping to re-take control.

The executive order suspends the US refugee programme for four months, and Syrian refugees indefinitely, and bars visitors and migrants from seven Muslim-majority countries for 90 days.

The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Show all 9 1 /9 The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the media White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer takes questions during the daily press briefing Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the Trans-Pacific Partnership Union leaders applaud US President Donald Trump for signing an executive order withdrawing the US from the Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations during a meeting in the Roosevelt Room of the White House in Washington DC. Mr Trump issued a presidential memorandum in January announcing that the US would withdraw from the trade deal Getty The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the Mexico wall A US Border Patrol vehicle sits waiting for illegal immigrants at a fence opening near the US-Mexico border near McAllen, Texas. The number of incoming immigrants has surged ahead of the upcoming Presidential inauguration of Donald Trump, who has pledged to build a wall along the US-Mexico border. A signature campaign promise, Mr Trump outlined his intention to build a border wall on the US-Mexico border days after taking office Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and abortion US President Donald Trump signs an executive order as Chief of Staff Reince Priebus looks on in the Oval Office of the White House. Mr Trump reinstated a ban on American financial aide being granted to non-governmental organizations that provide abortion counseling, provide abortion referrals, or advocate for abortion access outside of the United States Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the Dakota Access pipeline Opponents of the Keystone XL and Dakota Access pipelines hold a rally as they protest US President Donald Trump's executive orders advancing their construction, at Columbus Circle in New York. US President Donald Trump signed executive orders reviving the construction of two controversial oil pipelines, but said the projects would be subject to renegotiation Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and 'Obamacare' Nancy Pelosi who is the minority leader of the House of Representatives speaks beside House Democrats at an event to protect the Affordable Care Act in Los Angeles, California. US President Donald Trump's effort to make good on his campaign promise to repeal and replace the healthcare law failed when Republicans failed to get enough votes. Mr Trump has promised to revisit the matter Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Donald Trump and 'sanctuary cities' US President Donald Trump signed an executive order in January threatening to pull funding for so-called "sanctuary cities" if they do not comply with federal immigration law AP The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the travel ban US President Donald Trump has attempted twice to restrict travel into the United States from several predominantly Muslim countries. The first attempt, in February, was met with swift opposition from protesters who flocked to airports around the country. That travel ban was later blocked by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. The second ban was blocked by a federal judge a day before it was scheduled to be implemented in mid-March SANDY HUFFAKER/AFP/Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and climate change US President Donald Trump sought to dismantle several of his predecessor's actions on climate change in March. His order instructed the Environmental Protection Agency to reevaluate the Clean Power Plan, which would cap power plant emissions Shannon Stapleton/Reuters

Critics have labelled the policy a “Muslim ban” – an allegation denied by the President, who has called for asylum claims by Christians to be prioritised, earning a warning from the UN.

Gillian Christensen, a spokesperson for the CBP, denied the agency was directed to ignore court orders stopping enforcement of the executive order.

“CBP officers are not detaining anyone,” she told Buzzfeed. “Green card holders who arrive in the US have to go through secondary screening but that process is working smoothly and relatively quickly.

“Furthermore, visa holders who would be affected by the executive order are being denied boarding at their point of departure so they are not even making it into the US.”

Following chaos at airports over the weekend as US residents and visa holders were detained, the Secretary of Homeland Security, John Kelly, issued a clarification saying the “entry of lawful permanent residents is in the national interest”.

Lawyers have accused border agents of ignoring a judge’s stay against the order in attempts to deport legal visitors to the US, with dozens handcuffed and detained at airports.

The acting Attorney General, Sally Yates, was fired for publicly questioning Mr Trump’s policy and ordering government lawyers not to defend it, prompting comparisons to the Nixon-era “Saturday night massacre”.