As the U.S. House of Representatives prepares to vote on the NO BAN Act (H.R. 2486, formerly H.R. 2214) on Wednesday, July 22, Muslim communities across the country are urging their members of Congress to pass the long-awaited bill, which would repeal President Trump’s Muslim and African Ban. The legislation would also strengthen immigration law to prohibit discrimination based on religion, and limit the power of this administration and future presidents to enact similar discriminatory bans.
“President Trump could not have been more obvious about what drives his immigration policies when he proceeded to smear and dehumanize Muslims and other immigrants during Tuesday’s press conference,” said Linda Sarsour, Co-Founder and Executive Director of MPower Change. “His intent has always been clear, and from the moment he enacted the first Muslim Ban and recent African Ban, families in our community have been targeted and ripped apart. And we are not alone — Dreamers, international students, and Latinx families migrating here in search of safety have all been targeted, living on edge as this administration toys with their lives. We stand together in calling on Congress to pass the NO BAN Act as an important step toward justice for all immigrant communities.”
Syrian-American Ramez Alghazzouli, who was separated from his wife Asmaa due to the Muslim Ban, said, “For two years, I spent each day wondering when I would get to see my wife again. I tried to focus at work and busy my mind with a routine, but living with that kind of uncertainty regarding the person you love most in the world is devastating. I hope this NO BAN Act can put an end to the suffering of the thousands of families impacted by these senseless bans.”
Zahra Billoo, Executive Director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations San Francisco Bay Area, added: “American Muslims, along with our friends, classmates and coworkers, have rallied together at airports and in the streets to oppose Donald Trump’s white nationalist immigration agenda from day one. We are calling on Congress to pass the NO BAN Act, which is the first step in repealing the Muslim and African Ban. We will continue standing together until these discriminatory bans are history.”
The NO BAN (National Origin-Based Anti-discrimination for Non immigrants) Act was first introduced in April 2019 by Rep. Judy Chu (D-CA). A companion bill was introduced in the U.S. Senate by Sen. Chris Coons (D-DE).
