Washington, D.C. ― Today, the U.S. Supreme Court announced that it will hear the government’s appeal of the lower court rulings blocking the Muslim ban. The court also reinstated part of the administration’s Muslim ban, restricting some travelers from six Muslim-majority countries. It allows foreign nationals with close familial relationships with someone in the U.S. to live with or visit the United States. It also allows workers who accept an offer of employment from an American company, students enrolled in an American university, or a lecturer invited to address an American audience to come to the United States.
Asian Americans Advancing Justice (Advancing Justice), an affiliation of five civil rights organizations, is deeply disappointed in the Court’s decision and vows to continue providing immediate support to impacted members of the Arab, Middle Eastern, Muslim, and South Asian communities.
After the first Muslim ban, staff members from our affiliation were among the first responders at airports across the country working to secure the release of individuals unlawfully detained at airports. As litigation worked its way through the courts, we have provided legal and Know Your Rights assistance to impacted communities, and have opposed efforts to establish backdoor Muslim ban policies. Advancing Justice joined the Korematsu Center in filing amicus briefs in multiple courts against the administration’s Muslim ban executive orders.
Advancing Justice released a statement following the court’s ruling:
“Today we are deeply disappointed that the Supreme Court sided with fear while blindly ignoring the hardships faced by refugees and visa seekers. Many Arab, Middle Eastern, Muslim, and South Asian communities have suffered greatly since the first Muslim ban was issued. The administration’s Muslim ban foments disturbing trends of anti-Muslim sentiments within the U.S. and abroad. The Supreme Court should not have allowed any part of the Muslim ban to move forward while this executive order is under review.
The Muslim ban restrains travel and freedom of movement for the communities affected without a rational basis. Any attempt to limit travel based on religion or country of origin is an egregious attack on the Constitution. From the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 and the incarceration of Japanese Americans during World War II to the Muslim ban today, xenophobia has fanned the flames of fear and hatred, driving immigration policy in irrational ways.
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth and Ninth Circuits got it right in declaring the Muslim ban unconstitutional. We will continue to oppose any and all threats to the communities we represent. We will stay vigilant to any future efforts from every part of this administration to ban religious or ethnic communities, including through backdoor policies.”
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 – AAJC (Washington, D.C.), Advancing Justice – Asian Law Caucus (San Francisco), Advancing Justice – Los Angeles, Advancing Justice – Atlanta, and Advancing Justice – Chicago.