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Muslim Advocates Statement on Muslim Ban Court Hearing

As Federal Court Considers Lawsuits Challenging Muslim Ban, Muslim Advocates Vows to Keep Fighting

WASHINGTON, DC — Today, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit in Richmond, Virginia heard arguments on whether three lawsuits challenging the Muslim Ban should be able to proceed. Muslim Advocates serves as co-counsel on one of the lawsuits, IAAB v. Trump. This lawsuit, filed on behalf of a youth organization and several Iranian Americans separated from their families, is the first major legal challenge brought against the third version of the Muslim Ban.

In October 2017, a district court granted an injunction in the case, preventing the government from carrying out Muslim Ban 3.0. That ruling was affirmed by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. The federal government then appealed the decision to the U.S. Supreme Court, where the case was ultimately sent back to a lower court. The government then moved to dismiss the lawsuit, and the lower court denied the government’s motion.  The government filed an appeal of that lower court decision to the Fourth Circuit, which was heard today. The following is a statement on today’s court hearing from Muslim Advocates Staff Attorney Nimra Azmi:

“Today, we hope that the Fourth Circuit finds itself on the right side of the law and the right side of history by ruling to let this case move forward. We’re proud of all the plaintiffs who, even in the face of the worst heartbreak, keep fighting. These clients have fought on behalf of countless individuals by sharing their stories of being torn apart from their loved ones and discriminated against by the bigoted Muslim Ban. And just like them, we will keep fighting to do everything possible to end it.”

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Muslim Advocates is a national civil rights organization working in the courts, in the halls of power and in communities to halt bigotry in its tracks. We ensure that American Muslims have a seat at the table with expert representation so that all Americans may live free from hate and discrimination. 

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