HOUSE PASSES NO BAN ACT: A STEP FORWARD FOR IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES
On July 22nd, 2020, Congress passed the No Ban Act in a step forward for Muslim and immigrant communities. The No Ban Act would repeal the travel ban – popularly known as the Muslim Ban – that President Trump has enacted on citizens of 13 countries and limit his authority to issue such sweeping bans in the future. The No Ban Act would also strengthen prohibitions on religious discrimination in visa applications.
U.S. Rep. Pramila Jayapal of Washington said that this bill represents an important step towards broader immigration reform efforts.
We’re going to be pushing for comprehensive, humane immigration reform that really addresses the broken pieces of immigration law that we currently have. That is absolutely essential.
Pramila Jayapl, U.S. Rep. of Washington
The No Ban Act would end President Trump’s existing travel bans on several Muslim countries he deems as threats to national security as well as put in place measures to prevent future such bans.
The No Ban Act would also dial back the president’s authority to issue similar bans under Section 212(f) of the Immigration and Nationality Act.
[Section 212(f) was] not intended to provide carte blanche authority to the president to ban large categories of individuals without justification or to rewrite immigration laws with which he disagrees.
Jerrold Nadler, House Judiciary Committee Chair
Banning foreign nationals based on national origin is against the ideals of our democracy and society. The current administration’s anti-immigrant discrimination in the name of national security needs to end. The NO BAN Act is important for Muslim and African communities as well as other communities that could be targeted discriminatorily. This Act would provide protections against discriminatory travel bans now and in the future. This Act still needs to pass in the Senate; however, the House passage is a step forward. We stand for immigrants from all countries and creeds, and SAAPRI will continue to stand with vulnerable minority communities and advocate for protecting their rights.
Shobhana Verma, Executive Director of SAAPRI
Passage is, nevertheless, a big step forward, but with that comes an intense reminder of the work that still needs to be done on both sides of the aisle. We can celebrate this victory and simultaneously demand more from both Congress and the White House. We can enact laws and policies that do right by communities of color — in fact, we must.
Manar Waheed, senior counsel on behalf of the ACLU