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Civil Rights Groups Condemn Trump's Latest Muslim Ban
Administration Expands Muslim Ban Making Entry into U.S. Even More Restrictive
SAN FRANCISCO, CA – This evening, the Trump Administration announced its new, discriminatory Muslim and Refugee Ban to include North Korea, Venezuela, and Muslim-majority Chad, and continues to include Iran, Libya, Syria, and Yemen. The degree of immigration restriction varies by individual country, including complete ban. This move by the Administration represents an attempt to sanitize a discriminatory and illegal policy before it is reviewed by the Supreme Court on October 10th.
In response to the news Elica Vafaie from Asian Americans Advancing Justice (AAAJ), Zahra Billoo from the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), and Avideh Moussavian from the National Immigration Law Center (NILC) released the following statements:
Elica Vafaie, Staff Attorney at Asian Americans Advancing Justice:
“This new nonsensical Ban continues to discriminate against immigrants, refugees, and visitors from a group of majority Muslim countries. We will continue to stand up for our communities and fight against any attempt at a Muslim Ban.”
Zahra Billoo, CAIR Representative:
“Adding two non-majority Muslim countries doesn’t change the math or the intent of Trump’s new Muslim Ban when five out of seven targeted countries are Muslim majority. This policy continues to be xenophobic and unconstitutional.”
“We encourage travelers to know their rights and to reach out to our organizations if they have questions or experience any harassment or delays at airports.”
Avideh Moussavian, Senior Policy Attorney, National Immigration Law Center:
“Just like a new coat of paint won’t repair a house with dangerous structural problems, this new variation on the ban does nothing to cover up its discriminatory intent against Muslims, nor does it remove the xenophobic core of this executive order. All our communities must stand together more forcefully now than ever before to reject each permutation of this pernicious order.”
The following affected individuals are available for interviews:
Dr. Debbie Almontaser (Almon-tos-sir), is the President of the Muslim Community Network and the founder and CEO of Bridging Cultures Group. She is a leading, nationwide voice on Muslim and Yemeni American related matters. Dr. Almontaser helped found the Yemeni American Merchants Association which was birthed through her co-organizing of the Yemeni Bodega Strike in response to the Muslim Ban.
Location: New York, NY
Background: Yemen
Abrar Omeish (Uh-b-rawr O-maish), is passionate about public service and was recently a candidate for the Fairfax County School Board At-Large seat. Abrar holds an intensive BA in political science and a BA in modern Middle Eastern Studies from Yale University.
Location: Fairfax, VA
Background: Libya
Anas Salem Tresh, is a first-generation American Muslim Libyan currently undergoing my second year of my medical school education at the University of California San Francisco.
Location: San Francisco, CA
Background: Libya
Azadeh N. Shahshahani, Azadeh Shahshahani serves as Legal and Advocacy Director with Project South. Azadeh has worked for a number of years in the Southeast to protect the human rights of immigrants and Muslim, Middle Eastern, and South Asian communities.
She previously served as National Security/Immigrants’ Rights Project Director with the ACLU of Georgia. Azadeh is a past president of the National Lawyers Guild. Through the NLG, Azadeh has participated in international delegations, including to post-revolutionary Tunisia and Egypt, a delegation focused on the situation of Palestinian political prisoners, and election monitoring delegations to Venezuela and Honduras. She is the author or editor of several human rights reports, including a 2017 report titled “Imprisoned Justice: Inside Two Georgia Immigrant Detention Centers” as well as law review articles and book chapters focused on racial profiling, immigrants’ rights, and surveillance of Muslim-Americans. Her work has also appeared in the Guardian, the Nation, MSNBC, Aljazeera, the Atlanta Journal Constitution, and the Huffington Post, among others. Azadeh received her JD from the University of Michigan Law School where she was Article Editor for The Michigan Journal of International Law. She also has a Master’s in Modern Middle Eastern and North African Studies from the University of Michigan.
Location: Washington, DC
Background: Iran
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Asian Americans Advancing Justice is a national affiliation of five leading organizations advocating for the civil and human rights of Asian Americans and other underserved communities to promote a fair and equitable society for all. The affiliation’s members are: Advancing Justice – Asian Law Caucus (San Francisco), Advancing Justice – AAJC (Washington, D.C.), Advancing Justice – Los Angeles, Advancing Justice – Atlanta, and Advancing Justice – Chicago.
CAIR, is America’s largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.
The National Immigration Law Center is exclusively dedicated to defending and advancing the rights and opportunities of low-income immigrants and their families. Our mission is grounded in the belief that every American—and aspiring American—should have the opportunity to fulfill their full potential regardless of where they were born or how much money they have. Using our deep expertise in a wide range of issues that affect low-income immigrants’ lives, we work with communities in courtrooms and legislatures to help advance policies that create a more just and equitable society for everyone.