House Must Act Quickly to End Muslim Ban, Pass First Ever Muslim Civil Rights Bill

Washington, DC — Today, members of Congress and Muslim Advocates held a press call stressing the importance of passing the NO BAN Act (H.R. 2486), a bill that would immediately end the Trump administration’s Muslim and African Ban and close loopholes in immigration law to prevent future presidents from enacting similar bans ever again. Speakers on the call include NO BAN Act lead sponsor Rep. Judy Chu (D-CA) and co-sponsors Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) and Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI) as well as Muslim Advocates Executive Director Farhana Khera. A scheduled Thursday vote on the NO BAN Act could be delayed as Congress currently debates a legislative response to coronavirus. Click here for a recording of this morning’s call. Included below are select quotes from participants in the call as well as Rep. André Carson (D-IN), who is also a co-sponsor of the NO BAN Act.

NO BAN Act Lead Sponsor Rep. Judy Chu: “The Muslim Bans are not who we are as Americans. They hurt families and hurt our national security. And we must stop this president from overextending his authority and banning people from entire countries simply because of their religion. This cruel ban continues to needlessly tear families apart and cause misery and psychological trauma. Spouses and fiancés are separated. Weddings, births, funerals and graduations have all been missed. Over 5,000 adopted children of U.S. citizens cannot join their families.”

NO BAN Act Co-Sponsor Rep. Ilhan Omar: “As the only member of Congress born in one of those banned countries and has relatives in another, I know firsthand how destructive this policy is to millions of people around the world who want to come to American to seek a better life. Families who haven’t been able to see their loved ones and have been separated from them will have an ability to see accountability happen in the United States.”

NO BAN Act Co-Sponsor Rep. Rashida Tlaib: “We have fought to pass the Violence Against Women Act, the Voting Rights Act, the Equality Act, the American Dream and Promise Act. And it is our responsibility and duty to also include repealing the Muslim Ban, which I feel like is so interconnected and pushing back against these dehumanizing policies coming out of the current administration. So I’m looking forward to voting on this as one of the first Muslim women elected. It is very important to lift up so many people that cannot be in this chamber right now and for us to be able to show them that this hate agenda or hate politics doesn’t belong in our country.”

NO BAN Act Co-Sponsor Rep. André Carson: “The House passing the NO BAN Act doesn’t just represent our most significant step to end the President’s Muslim Ban. It is also a powerful rebuke of his xenophobic agenda, and the culmination of years of hard work, unified opposition, and tireless advocacy. I was honored to coauthor this legislation, but I have been even more humbled to witness the diverse, passionate and principled coalition of Americans support it. The House vote to pass the NO BAN Act will show that, despite the bigotry that created the Muslim Ban, love remains stronger than hate.”

Muslim Advocates Executive Director Farhana Khera: “A vote on the NO BAN Act would be historic for the American Muslim community. This would be the first Muslim civil rights bill ever passed by a chamber of Congress. Because of the ban, today, likely millions of American families have been separated from their loved ones. Sick people have been denied life-saving medical treatment. Scientists, academics, engineers and doctors have been kept out of the country at a time when we need them most.”

Additional Resources:

• Take Action: End Trump’s Muslim Ban and guarantee immigrants equal treatment under the law
• Muslim Advocates’ Muslim Ban Action Center

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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