January 20, 2021
Issue: Muslim Ban
Biden Day One Immigration Bill Includes NO BAN Act
First-Ever Muslim Civil Rights Bill Prevents Future Discriminatory Bans
Washington, DC — Today, President Joe Biden announced that he will send to Congress the U.S. Citizenship Act, which includes the NO BAN Act, a landmark Muslim civil rights bill that will prevent future presidents from enacting discriminatory bans like the Muslim Ban ever again. The NO BAN Act, introduced in the last congressional session by Sen. Chris Coons (D-DE) and Rep. Judy Chu (D-CA), was passed by the House last July. Muslim Advocates worked with both members on the bill and led the NO BAN Act coalition, a group of more than 100 civil rights and community groups supporting it. The following is a statement from Muslim Advocates Executive Director Farhana Khera:
“Today marks a double victory for Muslims and for civil rights: the end of the Muslim Ban and a commitment by the new president of the United States to support the first-ever Muslim civil rights bill. Rescinding the Muslim Ban by executive order will bring hope to countless impacted families and end an era in which anti-Muslim discrimination has been the law of the land. However, a future president could still harness the power of anti-Muslim and anti-immigrant bigotry by enacting another discriminatory ban. That is why it is so important that the NO BAN Act was also included in the U.S. Citizenship Act, which will move our nation in a new direction where your race, ethnicity or faith won’t dictate your worthiness of being an American.
The NO BAN Act’s inclusion in the U.S. Citizenship Act is a true victory for the Muslim community. Muslims and our allies worked arm-in-arm with Sen. Coons and Rep Chu—going office-to-office and district-to-district to gain support for the bill. Now, President Biden has included it in his day one immigration bill. This is a historic validation for Muslims and a massive step forward towards ensuring that the next Donald Trump won’t be able to wield anti-Muslim hate as a political tool by banning people because of their background or faith.”
Muslim Advocates has served as a legal, political and community leader in the fight against the Muslim Ban. The group filed seven federal lawsuits, mobilized corporations and hundreds of groups, testified at the only congressional hearing on the Muslim Ban and led the coalition supporting the NO BAN Act. Additionally, Muslim Advocates sent incoming Domestic Policy Council Director Susan Rice a letter and memo underscoring the importance of this repeal and outlining additional steps necessary from the administration to reunite families as quickly as possible.
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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.