Today, Donald Trump signed a “Muslim Ban 2.0” executive order targeting travelers and immigrants from six Muslim-majority countries, including Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen (Iraq was removed from the original list). The new order, meant to avoid the legal challenges against the original executive order, excludes green-card holders and no longer permanently bars Syrian refugees.
Today’s revised order bars family members, students, travelers, workers and others from the six designated countries from obtaining any visas for at least the next 90 days. In addition, all refugee resettlement will be halted for 120 days. This updated Muslim and refugee ban will be phased in over the next two weeks, fully going into effect on March 16. President Trump has put forth this order in spite of a leaked Department of Homeland Security report that the order will not help prevent any domestic terrorism events.
The following is a statement from Steven Choi, executive director of New York Immigration Coalition:
“President Trump’s new “backdoor Muslim ban” executive order is simply a mask for the same old hatred, fear and incompetence. The President has not learned his lesson - despite the moral outrage, sheer incompetence and serious legal concerns, Trump has chosen to double down on this bigoted piece of public policy, continuing to believe that he is above the law.
“This is just one more example of the President’s concerted effort to divide this country and instill panic and fear in immigrant, refugee and Muslim communities. Although the White House continues to claim this helps national security, the Department of Homeland Security has debunked this very idea. This only hurts our country - families will be kept apart, students will be unable to finish their studies, businesses will lose valuable employees and Americans will lose credibility in the world.
“In addition, any suspension of the refugee program dishonors our history, beliefs and values. We are a nation founded in part by refugees fleeing persecution because of their religious beliefs. The United States is meant to be a shining light on the hill, a country that draws our strength from religious tolerance and diversity of opinions.
“The American people expect and deserve more from our leaders. On behalf of New York’s Muslim, refugee and immigrant communities, we will fight this unlawful, discriminatory and harmful executive order in the courts, in the halls of Congress, and in the streets"
NYIC is holding a press conference at 3:30pm today at our office. Click HERE for details.
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The New York Immigration Coalition is an umbrella policy and advocacy organization for nearly 200 groups in New York State that work with immigrants and refugees.The NYIC aims to achieve a fairer and more just society that values the contributions of immigrants and extends opportunity to all by promoting immigrants’ full civic participation, fostering their leadership, and providing a unified voice and a vehicle for collective action for New York’s diverse immigrant communities.