Washington, DC — Because the House House of Representatives is now working on an emergency legislative response to the coronavirus crisis, a scheduled Thursday vote on the NO BAN Act (H.R. 2486) has been delayed. The bill 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. The following is a statement from Farhana Khera, Muslim Advocates’ executive director:

“While an unfolding crisis has overtaken Thursday’s vote, we will persevere. The NO BAN Act stands to be the first ever Muslim civil rights bill passed by a chamber of Congress. American Muslims and our allies worked extremely hard to ensure that the bill received a vote and we will continue to work with House leadership to ensure that it passes as soon as possible. As Congress debates the pressing need to respond to the coronavirus, we have received assurances that this will be a brief delay, not a denial, and we, along with our NO BAN Act coalition partners, intend to hold the Democratic leadership to their word. 

We want to thank Reps. Jerry Nadler, Judy Chu, Rashida Tlaib, Ilhan Omar, André Carson, Pramila Jayapal, Max Rose, Zoe Lofgren and Sen. Chris Coons for getting us this far. This House has made an unequivocal commitment to uphold the civil rights of all Americans by passing bills like the Violence Against Women Act, the Voting Rights Restoration Act, the Equality Act and the Dream and Promise Act. We know Speaker Pelosi and Leader Hoyer will similarly acknowledge the dignity of the American Muslim community and swiftly schedule a vote on the NO BAN Act as well.” 

Additional Resources:

• Chu, Omar, Tlaib & Carson Urge House Passage of NO BAN Act
• 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.

###