AILA Condemns Trump Administration’s Expansion of Discriminatory Travel Ban

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
January 31, 2020

WASHINGTON, DC - Today, the Trump administration announced the expansion of its travel ban to include nationals from Burma (Myanmar), Eritrea, Kyrgyzstan, Nigeria, Sudan, and Tanzania. The original ban, issued in January 2017 by way of Executive Order, suspended immigrant and nonimmigrant entry for people from predominantly Muslim countries. Today’s announcement is an expansion of the third iteration of the ban, issued in September 2017 and upheld by the Supreme Court.

Marketa Lindt, AILA President, responded with the following: “Today’s expansion is an unnecessary and discriminatory obstacle for individuals seeking entry into the United States. Previous bans have had devastating impacts, including unnecessary family separations, unfounded visa denials, lost career and educational opportunities, and more. This ban does not protect Americans from any identified national security threat. Rather, it stifles our diversity, harms our economy, and weakens our commitment to equality before the law.”

AILA Executive Director Benjamin Johnson, added, “Although the Supreme Court has previously upheld the President’s authority to issue these bans, denying people entry to the United States based solely on where they are from is bad policy and is contrary to the principles underlying our legal system. AILA remains deeply troubled by this ban’s intent and impact.”

Related Resources

• Presidential Proclamation: Improving Enhanced Vetting Capabilities and Processes for Detecting Attempted Entry
• Presidential Proclamation: Maintaining Enhanced Vetting Capabilities and Processes for Detecting Attempted Entry Into the United States by Terrorists or Other Public-Safety Threats (83 FR 15937, 4/13/18)
• Presidential Proclamation: Enhancing Vetting Capabilities and Processes for Detecting Attempted Entry into the United States by Terrorists or Other Public-Safety Threats (82 FR 45161, 9/27/17)