As’Salaamu Alaikum Community Members,
Hoping that this message finds you in good health and safe at home with the company of loved ones nearby.
While counties across the Bay Area temporarily halted operations to provide respite from the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic, CAIR-SFBA’s legal staff continued their advocacy and remained alert to the needs of community members during these trying times including providing legal representation and providing affirmative advice on travel issues.
During March, our offices were approached by community members impacted by the sudden closure of airports and borders around the globe as governments scrambled to contain the COVID-19 pandemic by limiting travel. Community members included a Muslim family in the Bay Area who were vacationing in Morocco when the Moroccan government abruptly grounded international passenger flights and passenger ships to and from its territory in mid-March. Having rushed immediately from Casablanca where they were staying to Marrakesh, the family found themselves in the middle of a chaotic scramble at the airport as international tourists, non-citizens, and dual nationals found themselves jostling for the limited flight service to international destinations. Unable to find a flight after having spent an entire day at the airport, the family contacted CAIR-SFBA for assistance and advice.
CAIR-SFBA attorneys recommend that the family register for the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP), a free service allowing U.S. citizens and nationals traveling and living abroad to enroll with the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate. STEP allows U.S. citizen travelers to receive immediate assistance and support from the relevant embassy or consulate in the event of an emergency, such as the COVID-19 pandemic. While the U.S. Embassy in Rabat was unhelpful, CAIR-SFBA attorneys also assisted the family in reaching out to their elected officials locally to place pressure on the State Department to ensure the safety and security of all U.S. nationals traveling abroad. Ultimately within the next few days, the family was able to board a flight to London, U.K. and travel back home to the Bay Area, putting this daunting experience behind them.
During times of heightened travel security measures in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, CAIR-SFBA reminds community members as they or their loved ones travel for necessity within or outside the U.S. through airports or land borders, of being mindful of their rights and exercising them. In an age of expanded data storage and access capabilities which benefit both users as well as governmental agencies seeking to pry into your life, CAIR-SFBA recommends that travelers use backup storage devices to store data; alternative and disposable electronic devices and to disable identification features like retinal scans throughout the process. If you are worried about encountering hostile CBP agents during secondary screening or extended questioning, please read through our traveler’s Know Your Rights materials that can be accessed on our website.
As always, if you find yourself or a loved one a target of discrimination and harassment while traveling, at your workplace, at healthcare facilities and on school premises, please reach out to us through our incident report form. More generally, we recommend contacting our legal department at 408. 986.9874 for personalized legal consultations or reading through our Know Your Rights materials found on our website.
Sincerely,
Ammad Rafiqi, Esq.
Civil Rights & Legal Services Coordinator