No Ban Act’ reintroduced on Capitol Hill

By: TMO Staff

NATIONAL— California State Representative Judy Chu reintroduced legislation tackling the repercussions of Islamophobia on Capitol Hill. It’s called the ‘National Origin-Based Antidiscrimination for Nonimmigrants, also known as the ‘No Ban Act.’

“The Muslim Ban was a hateful stain on our nation. Inspired only by bigotry and not any genuine national security concerns, the ban served only to separate families while stoking bigotry, xenophobia, and Islamophobia. That is why I was so grateful when President Joe Biden took action on his first day in office to rescind all versions of this ban,” Rep. Judy Chu stated in an official release from her office.

“However, we cannot risk letting prejudice become policy again. That is why I am once again introducing the NO BAN Act to update our laws. By requiring actual evidence of a threat before there can be any such broad based bans like this, the NO BAN Act ensures that future presidents will not be able to ban people solely because of their religion. I’m proud that this bill was passed by the House last Congress and, with the help and leadership of Senator Chris Coons, I hope to see it passed again and brought to the President’s desk soon.”

The legislation would repeal Muslim executive orders and extreme censorship toward refugees in the United States. The bill has been cosponsored by 137 House members.

According to its official release, it would prohibit discrimination due to religion and provide government oversight if a travel ban would be issued shortly if former President Donald Trump is elected in 2024.

“While the Trump administration’s bigoted and dehumanizing Muslim and Africa Ban was thankfully ended by the Biden administration, the damage it caused will last for generations,” said Michigan State Representative Rashida Tlaib in an official press release.

“This is why the passage of the NO BAN Act is as essential as ever: to ensure that future administrations cannot reenact such a hateful agenda and actualize politics that rips families apart and have no place in this country. I thank Congresswoman Chu for leading the reintroduction of this legislation that means so much to me and the hundreds of millions of Muslims around the world whose lives and families were tragically affected by the Muslim Ban.”

The original travel ban took place in 2017 where it banned immigration from six Muslim countries. The ban exempted individuals who already received green cards, and visas at the time. Those countries were: Iraq, Iran, Somalia, Libya, Sudan, Syria and Yemen. It suspended immigration from Syria, and the order banned Muslim-dominated countries from visiting the country for 90 days.

The executive order signed by Trump, also suspended entry to the United States for all Syrian refugees.

Several Muslims were impacted by the law, and were facing deportation under what was deemed as the “Muslim Ban.” It would have banned nearly 110,000 refugees from an opportunity at resettlement within the United States.

However, the order was halted by a federal judge after they issued a temporary restraining order which temporarily stopped the ban. Then, a United States Appeals Court rejected Trump’s attempts to reestablish the travel ban.

However, as the 2024 election is only a few months away and former President Trump is vying against Vice President Kamala Harris for the Presidential seat, many Americans are concerned another ban could occur again.

This recent reinstatement of the legislation tackling future bans provides security to Muslims who could be victims.

“When the Trump Administration issued its xenophobic Muslim Ban, it was immediately apparent that it was unconstitutional, discriminatory, and morally reprehensible,” said House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler sai din a public statement.

“I am grateful that President Biden took bold action on day one to repeal this ban and reunite families, but we cannot risk the possibility of any future President reinstating this heinous policy. That is why I am so proud to join Congresswoman Chu in introducing the NO BAN Act, which defends Congress’s role in establishing our immigration laws and restores our reputation as an inclusive, welcoming nation.”