Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) gives remarks Wednesday morning at the announcement of the No Ban Act. (Photo: Muslim Advocates Twitter account)
Dems Introduce Bill to End Trump's 'UnAmerican' Muslim Ban
"We are happy to see elected officials who are using their legislative powers to dismantle the Trump administration's bigoted policies."
Democrats in both chambers of Congress introduced legislation to end President Donald Trump's racist Muslim ban Wednesday, generating support from advocates and lawmakers opposed to the administration's policy.
The No Ban Act, which faces an uphill battle in the Senate, would end a number of policies designed to stop immigration into the U.S. from Muslim majority countries. Those policies, according to Al Jazeera, include the travel ban, the ban on asylum seekers, and so-called "extreme vetting," a technique to slow down the immigration process for applicants.
Imraan Siddiqi, the executive director of CAIR Arizona, told Common Dreams that the bill is a step in the right direction.
"We are happy to see elected officials who are using their legislative powers to dismantle the Trump administration's bigoted policies," said Siddiqi. "The Muslim Ban has caused harm on untold thousands of people, based on the politicization of Islamophobia."
"By introducing this piece of legislation, our representatives are ensuring that these abuses of executive powers are put back in check and that no one should be banned from this country based on their national origin nor religion," Siddiqi added.
Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Rep. Judy Chu (D-Calif.) are the lead sponsors of the bill in their respective chambers. During a press conference on Wednesday announcing the legislation, Coons told reporters that he was driven to act after watching the effects of the policy on families in Delaware.
"We are committed to standing against hate and intolerance and to end this cruel policy," said Coons.
Chu, who said Wednesday that she remembered the day the ban was put into effect with sadness, said in a tweet that the legislation was designed to ensure that not only would the ban be repealed but that the power to take racist actions like it would also be curtailed.
"Trump's Muslim ban is unAmerican," Chu said. "That is why Sen. Chris Coons and I are introducing our No Ban Act today to not only repeal Trump's hateful ban but also prevent any future president from issuing a ban based on religion or nationality."
Chu and Coons were joined by Reps. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) and Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) at the announcement.
"I have said this before, and let me say it again," said Omar. "I believe this ban will go down in history as as a moral stain on our country's history."
Tlaib, in her comments, pointed to the fact that the ban would affect more than just the people it initially targeted--as all such targeted actions do.
"This is an American issue," said Tlaib, "don't let anyone tell you otherwise."
Other groups weighed in to support the legislation.
"The Democratic majority in the House and any Republicans who claim independence from President Trump have a golden opportunity to end this shameful Muslim Ban," said National Iranian American Council executive director Jamal Abdi in a statement.
"If Congress chooses to squander this moment then they will find themselves complicit in one of the most discriminatory policies of our time," added Abdi.
People for the American Way signaled support in an open letter released Monday.
"The No Ban Act is a clear and unequivocal response to the Muslim Ban that would ensure no one can be banned from our country based on religious or nationality-based discrimination ever again," the organization wrote.
In a statement, the ACLU's senior legislative and advocacy counsel Manar Waheed said that the damage of the ban may take decades to fix--even if Chu and Coons are successful in getting their legislation through Congress.
The damage of the bans does not end with those directly impacted. Discriminatory government rhetoric and policies like the Muslim ban play a role in the escalation of bigotry, harassment, and attacks on community members and faith-based institutions. Beyond individuals from the listed countries, the Muslim ban has caused real pain in hearts, homes, and neighborhoods of the American people as well as those around the globe.
The bill is an "important step," said the Brennan Center's Faiza Patel.
Watch Coons and Chu's announcement:
We are at a crossroads
This country and this world are at a monumental crossroads. In a few short weeks, US voters will have an opportunity to beat back the forces of fascism and confront the billionaires who are rigging the economy, our media system, and our democracy, making it increasingly impossible for ordinary people to get by. We’re not just talking about the election. We’re talking about what must be done once these fascist elements are vanquished from power. We need a bolder set of solutions than what either major party has so far been willing to offer and a working-class movement ready to fight like hell for it. Trump didn't emerge from nowhere. The conditions that fueled MAGA authoritarianism were created by decades of radical neoliberal economic policies and a corrupt political system dominated by corporate interests. They slashed taxes on the super-rich, promising that the benefits would trickle down. They said giveaways to the corporate titans would make life more affordable for the rest of us. It was all bullshit. And when a bitter, betrayed populace searches for someone to blame, right-wing demagogues have little trouble finding scapegoats. People know when they're being lied to, but you won't hear any of this from the corporate media. Only independent journalism—powered and funded by people who believe in building a better world—can deliver truly trustworthy daily news. Our Fall Campaign is underway, and we need your help. To power our newsroom through the rest of the year, we need to raise $125,000 by midnight on October 31. So if you share our vision, please contribute whatever you can to sustain our work. |
Democrats in both chambers of Congress introduced legislation to end President Donald Trump's racist Muslim ban Wednesday, generating support from advocates and lawmakers opposed to the administration's policy.
The No Ban Act, which faces an uphill battle in the Senate, would end a number of policies designed to stop immigration into the U.S. from Muslim majority countries. Those policies, according to Al Jazeera, include the travel ban, the ban on asylum seekers, and so-called "extreme vetting," a technique to slow down the immigration process for applicants.
Imraan Siddiqi, the executive director of CAIR Arizona, told Common Dreams that the bill is a step in the right direction.
"We are happy to see elected officials who are using their legislative powers to dismantle the Trump administration's bigoted policies," said Siddiqi. "The Muslim Ban has caused harm on untold thousands of people, based on the politicization of Islamophobia."
"By introducing this piece of legislation, our representatives are ensuring that these abuses of executive powers are put back in check and that no one should be banned from this country based on their national origin nor religion," Siddiqi added.
Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Rep. Judy Chu (D-Calif.) are the lead sponsors of the bill in their respective chambers. During a press conference on Wednesday announcing the legislation, Coons told reporters that he was driven to act after watching the effects of the policy on families in Delaware.
"We are committed to standing against hate and intolerance and to end this cruel policy," said Coons.
Chu, who said Wednesday that she remembered the day the ban was put into effect with sadness, said in a tweet that the legislation was designed to ensure that not only would the ban be repealed but that the power to take racist actions like it would also be curtailed.
"Trump's Muslim ban is unAmerican," Chu said. "That is why Sen. Chris Coons and I are introducing our No Ban Act today to not only repeal Trump's hateful ban but also prevent any future president from issuing a ban based on religion or nationality."
Chu and Coons were joined by Reps. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) and Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) at the announcement.
"I have said this before, and let me say it again," said Omar. "I believe this ban will go down in history as as a moral stain on our country's history."
Tlaib, in her comments, pointed to the fact that the ban would affect more than just the people it initially targeted--as all such targeted actions do.
"This is an American issue," said Tlaib, "don't let anyone tell you otherwise."
Other groups weighed in to support the legislation.
"The Democratic majority in the House and any Republicans who claim independence from President Trump have a golden opportunity to end this shameful Muslim Ban," said National Iranian American Council executive director Jamal Abdi in a statement.
"If Congress chooses to squander this moment then they will find themselves complicit in one of the most discriminatory policies of our time," added Abdi.
People for the American Way signaled support in an open letter released Monday.
"The No Ban Act is a clear and unequivocal response to the Muslim Ban that would ensure no one can be banned from our country based on religious or nationality-based discrimination ever again," the organization wrote.
In a statement, the ACLU's senior legislative and advocacy counsel Manar Waheed said that the damage of the ban may take decades to fix--even if Chu and Coons are successful in getting their legislation through Congress.
The damage of the bans does not end with those directly impacted. Discriminatory government rhetoric and policies like the Muslim ban play a role in the escalation of bigotry, harassment, and attacks on community members and faith-based institutions. Beyond individuals from the listed countries, the Muslim ban has caused real pain in hearts, homes, and neighborhoods of the American people as well as those around the globe.
The bill is an "important step," said the Brennan Center's Faiza Patel.
Watch Coons and Chu's announcement:
Democrats in both chambers of Congress introduced legislation to end President Donald Trump's racist Muslim ban Wednesday, generating support from advocates and lawmakers opposed to the administration's policy.
The No Ban Act, which faces an uphill battle in the Senate, would end a number of policies designed to stop immigration into the U.S. from Muslim majority countries. Those policies, according to Al Jazeera, include the travel ban, the ban on asylum seekers, and so-called "extreme vetting," a technique to slow down the immigration process for applicants.
Imraan Siddiqi, the executive director of CAIR Arizona, told Common Dreams that the bill is a step in the right direction.
"We are happy to see elected officials who are using their legislative powers to dismantle the Trump administration's bigoted policies," said Siddiqi. "The Muslim Ban has caused harm on untold thousands of people, based on the politicization of Islamophobia."
"By introducing this piece of legislation, our representatives are ensuring that these abuses of executive powers are put back in check and that no one should be banned from this country based on their national origin nor religion," Siddiqi added.
Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Rep. Judy Chu (D-Calif.) are the lead sponsors of the bill in their respective chambers. During a press conference on Wednesday announcing the legislation, Coons told reporters that he was driven to act after watching the effects of the policy on families in Delaware.
"We are committed to standing against hate and intolerance and to end this cruel policy," said Coons.
Chu, who said Wednesday that she remembered the day the ban was put into effect with sadness, said in a tweet that the legislation was designed to ensure that not only would the ban be repealed but that the power to take racist actions like it would also be curtailed.
"Trump's Muslim ban is unAmerican," Chu said. "That is why Sen. Chris Coons and I are introducing our No Ban Act today to not only repeal Trump's hateful ban but also prevent any future president from issuing a ban based on religion or nationality."
Chu and Coons were joined by Reps. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) and Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) at the announcement.
"I have said this before, and let me say it again," said Omar. "I believe this ban will go down in history as as a moral stain on our country's history."
Tlaib, in her comments, pointed to the fact that the ban would affect more than just the people it initially targeted--as all such targeted actions do.
"This is an American issue," said Tlaib, "don't let anyone tell you otherwise."
Other groups weighed in to support the legislation.
"The Democratic majority in the House and any Republicans who claim independence from President Trump have a golden opportunity to end this shameful Muslim Ban," said National Iranian American Council executive director Jamal Abdi in a statement.
"If Congress chooses to squander this moment then they will find themselves complicit in one of the most discriminatory policies of our time," added Abdi.
People for the American Way signaled support in an open letter released Monday.
"The No Ban Act is a clear and unequivocal response to the Muslim Ban that would ensure no one can be banned from our country based on religious or nationality-based discrimination ever again," the organization wrote.
In a statement, the ACLU's senior legislative and advocacy counsel Manar Waheed said that the damage of the ban may take decades to fix--even if Chu and Coons are successful in getting their legislation through Congress.
The damage of the bans does not end with those directly impacted. Discriminatory government rhetoric and policies like the Muslim ban play a role in the escalation of bigotry, harassment, and attacks on community members and faith-based institutions. Beyond individuals from the listed countries, the Muslim ban has caused real pain in hearts, homes, and neighborhoods of the American people as well as those around the globe.
The bill is an "important step," said the Brennan Center's Faiza Patel.
Watch Coons and Chu's announcement: