Distinction in travel journalism
Is independent travel journalism important to you?
Click here to keep it independent

27 Jun, 2017

U.S. Supreme Court Muslim Travel Ban: Get set for chaos, confusion, maelstrom and more Islamophobia

The following is a roundup of reactions by four advocacy groups representing Muslims, the Arab-American community and the Business Travel community.

ADC Troubled by the Supreme Court’s Decision to Partially Reinstate Travel Ban

Washington, D.C., June 26, 2017 – The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination (ADC) condemns the Supreme Court’s decision to partially reinstate the Arab and Muslim travel ban against refugees and foreign nationals seeking visas.

The Supreme Court’s decision is a blatant dismissal of the actual injury caused by the Administration’s direct attack against our community. It is particularly worrisome that the Supreme Court would allow the Administration to implement the ban when the discriminatory and arbitrary application of the ban following the initial rollout is well-known and documented. We saw rampant profiling by the Transportation Security Administration and Customs and Border Patrol, unlawful detention, family separation, and extensive interrogation unrelated to actual national security. As the Fourth Circuit declared, despite its revisions, the new travel ban “drips with religious intolerance, animus, and discrimination.”

ADC stands with you and will host a Facebook Live Tomorrow, to explain the impact of the Supreme Court’s decision. Make sure to tune in tomorrow, June 27, 2017 at 11:00AM 

JOIN ADC’S FACEBOOK LIVE EVENT ON JUNE 27th at11am

IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS OR NEED HELP, CALL ADC AT 202-244-2990 OR VIA EMAIL AT LEGAL@ADC.ORG

The Supreme Court did recognize that persons whom have a “bona fide” relationship with a family member or entity in the United States should be allowed to enter the United States. However, the “bona fide” relationship requirement as articulated by the Supreme Court is vague. Similar to the waivers provided in the Executive Order (EO), ADC has serious concerns that the requirement will ultimately still bar persons based on identity. ADC filed an amicus brief in IRAP v. Trump arguing that the waivers provided in the EO are arbitrary, and would effectively be used to ban all nationals from the designated countries by setting a burden that cannot be met. 

CALL OR SEND LETTER TO YOUR REPRESENTATIVES NOW

Write why this is important to you.

Why ADC Stands with You and Supports IRAP

The travel ban is not about national security more than it’s about preventing Arabs and Muslims from entering the U.S.

Our country was founded on the basis of rejecting discrimination in all forms.

From the beginning, Americans have adamantly opposed the travel ban.

Lives are at stake. Rather than being blinded by the xenophobia and religious animosity driven by rhetoric, we must speak out and demand justice.

Muslim Advocates Statement: What this means to those affected

Monday, June 26,, 4:54 pm ET – The Supreme Court just accepted the case on the executive order and allowed the travel ban and refugee ban to go into effect, but only for individuals who do not have a “bona fide relationship to a person or entity in the United States.” 

Community Information Call Tuesday at 2 pm ET.

In light of the Supreme Court’s decision on the Muslim ban case, Muslim Advocates is hosting a community information call to explain what happened, what it means for your rights, and to share stories of how it’s impacting our community. Click here to RSVP and receive the number for  the call.

What SCOTUS Just Did

The Supreme Court just accepted the case on the executive order and allowed the travel ban and refugee ban to go into effect, but only for individuals who do not have a “bona fide relationship to a person or entity in the United States.” The bans will likely go into effect within 72 hours and will continue for at least 90 days.  

What it Means to You 

    • If you are a national of the six countries with plans to travel to the United States, you should consult with an immigration attorney immediately. 
    • If you are a Lawful Permanent Resident (green card holder) or a United States citizen, the travel ban does not apply to you.
    • If you are a dual national traveling on a passport other than a passport issued by one of the six countries, the travel ban does not apply to you.
    • If you have a valid visa or other valid entry documents as of the effective date of the Order (which is likely to be within the next 2-3 days), the travel ban does not apply to you.
    • If you have a connection to the United States, such as a family member in the United States or an affiliation with an institution in the United States, the travel ban should not apply to you.
    • Certain other persons from the six countries may be able to qualify for a waiver and should immediately consult with an immigration attorney to determine their eligibility. 
    • If you experience any issues you believe are related to the travel ban, please report them using this secure online form.  

What Happens Next 

The Supreme Court will hear arguments on the case in October 2017, and will likely issue a final decision sometime during the Fall. We are now waiting for the administration to announce the implementation date of the order, which will be anytime within the next 72 hours. If you are from the six countries and have plans to travel to the United States, you should consult an immigration attorney immediately.  

What You Can Do Now

ACTE Statement: Maelstrom not worth the cosmetic increase in security

Alexandria, Virginia, 26 June — Today the Supreme Court announced that it would hear arguments on the Trump administration’s proposed travel ban, and allowed some aspects of the current ban to stand until they have issue a ruling on the order in 2018. Association of Corporate Travel Executives executive director Greeley Koch issued the following statement:

“When the Trump administration’s immigration ban was first implemented earlier this year in a cloud of chaos, we heard stories of business travellers being stopped at the U.S. border, even if they were not passport holders from the seven banned countries. Seeing this maelstrom unfold, ACTE has long been of the mind that this travel ban has had a chilling effect on business travel, local economies and jobs in the hospitality industry. This economic impact is not worth the cosmetic increase in security offered by the loophole-ridden travel ban.

“Business travelers need certainty that they won’t encounter major problems at the U.S. border. There are reasons to be heartened by the Supreme Court’s decision today, in particular the provision that would allow travelers with legitimate ties to the U.S. to continue to enter the country. But the key to successful implementation—and to minimize the impact to businesses—is clearly defining the ‘significant business or professional obligations’ that will allow travelers with proper documentation to enter the U.S. and keep the economic engine running. We will be eagerly awaiting clarity until this issue can be definitively resolved.”

CAIR Says Decision Ignores Anti-Muslim Bigotry, Emboldens Islamophobes in Trump Administration

(WASHINGTON, D.C., 6/26/17) – The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, said today’s decision by the U.S. Supreme Court allowing a limited version of the Trump administration’s “Muslim ban” executive orders to take effect ignores the Islamophobic origins of the policy and emboldens Islamophobes in the Trump administration.

The court said the ban on visitors from six Muslim-majority nations could be enforced as long as those individuals lack a “credible claim of a bona fide relationship with a person or entity in the United States.” Justices will hear arguments on the case in October.

SEE: Trump Travel Ban Partly Reinstated; Fall Court Arguments Set

In a statement, CAIR National Executive Director Nihad Awad said:

“Today’s decision by the Supreme Court ignores the anti-Muslim bigotry that is at the heart of the travel ban executive orders and will inevitably embolden Islamophobes in the administration to expand efforts to target the Muslim community with unconstitutional and counterproductive policies. It also ignores the almost-unanimous rejection of the Muslim ban by lower courts due to its religious intolerance and racial animus.

“While the court continued blocking those parts of the Muslim ban that would prevent entry for anyone with a ‘credible claim of a bona fide relationship with a person or entity in the United States,’ it has opened the door to legal chaos and official overreach in embassies and at the border.

“We will work with our civil rights partners to offer a legal and legislative response as the Muslim ban moves forward on the ground and in the Supreme Court.”

Awad said today’s decision was particularly disturbing for American Muslims, coming as it does on the Islamic end-of-Ramadan holiday of Eid ul-Fitr.

CAIR will hold a noon news conference to offer a broader reaction to the court’s decision.

WHEN: Tuesday, June 27, Noon

WHERE: CAIR’s Capitol Hill Headquarters, 453 New Jersey Avenue, SE, Washington, DC, 20003

CONTACT: CAIR National Litigation Director Lena Masri, 248-390-9784, lmasri@cair.com; CAIR Senior Litigation Attorney Gadeir Abbas, 720-251-0425, gabbas@cair.com

The news conference will be livestreamed on CAIR’s Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/CAIRNational ]

CAIR previously welcomed ruling by lower courts blocking both versions of the Muslim ban.

SEE: CAIR Welcomes 9th Circuit Ruling Upholding Freeze on Trump’s Revised ‘Muslim Ban’

CAIR Welcomes 4th Circuit Ruling Against Trump’s ‘Muslim Ban’