New Bill Seeks to Overturn Trump “Muslim Ban”

Some time back, on June 28, 2018, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld Presidential Proclamation 9645 which restricted immigration from eight countries – Libya, Iran, Syria, Somalia, Yemen, North Korea, Venezuela and Chad. The Court said that the proclamation “…placed entry restrictions on the nationals of eight foreign states whose systems for managing and sharing information about their nationals, the President deemed inadequate.”

Since President Trump enacted several prior travel bans which were struck down by lower courts, and since he had stated that they were to stop terrorists, and the countries initially targeted were Muslim-majority countries, opponents termed them a “Muslim ban,” and characterized the ban that was upheld as disingenuous, a Muslim ban in disguise, even though it included North Korea and Venezuela which are not Muslim-majority countries. In addition, critics pointed out inconsistencies such as a majority of the 9/11 terrorists came from Saudi Arabia, and yet that country was not on the restricted list.

Nevertheless, the Supreme Court said in the case syllabus that “The President has lawfully exercised the broad discretion granted to him under §1182(f) to suspend the entry of aliens into the United States.”

Opponents of the travel ban have now mustered support for H.R. 2214 the “National Origin-Based Antidiscrimination for Nonimmigrants Act” or NO BAN Act. Sponsored in the House by Rep. Judy Chu of California and the Senate version by Sen. Chris Coons of Delaware, the bill would “…transfer and limit Executive Branch authority to suspend or restrict the entry of a class of aliens.”

So far more than 200 House members have been confirmed as co-sponsors of the act. “Religious bans are wrong and House Democrats claiming to be on the side of civil and human rights have a responsibility to include American Muslims in that promise,” said Muslim Advocates Public Advocacy Director Scott Simpson. “Co-sponsoring and holding a vote on this historic bill sends a signal that dignity and religious freedom is for every American family.” Muslim Advocates is a national civil rights organization working to halt bigotry and ensure that American Muslims have a seat at the table with expert representation so that all Americans may live free from hate and discrimination.