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Washington, D.C. – Today, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 2214, the National Origin-Based Antidiscrimination for Nonimmigrants (NO BAN) Act by a bipartisan vote of 233-183. The NO BAN Act stops executive overreach by preventing the president from abusing his authority to restrict the entry of non-citizens into the United States. The bill also repeals several of President Trump’s travel bans, including the xenophobic Muslim ban.
“As a result of President Trump’s Muslim Ban, our country’s reputation as a beacon of hope, tolerance, and inclusion has been forever tarnished,” said Chairman Nadler. “When news first broke that people were being held at airports as a result of the Muslim Ban, I rushed to JFK Airport to demand justice for those wrongly detained. While we were able to secure the release of refugees, people with valid visas, and even legal permanent residents, we should never have had to do that. I am so proud that the House passed the NO BAN Act today, which will repeal the President's shameful travel bans and ensure that the United States will continue to be a place that welcomes and embraces people of religions and nationalities.”
The NO BAN Act is supported by numerous immigrants’ rights, faith-based, and civil rights organizations including the American Civil Liberties Union, Airbnb, Church World Service, U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, Muslim Advocates, Immigration Hub, Asian Americans Advancing Justice Association, Americans United for Separation of Church and State Bend the Arc, Center for American Progress, The Public Affairs Alliance of Iranian Americans, Interfaith Immigration Coalition, Human Rights Campaign, Franciscan Action Network, HIAS, Jewish and Muslims and Allies Acting Together, Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism, National Council of Jewish Women, National Iranian American Organization Action, National Immigration Law Center, International Refugee Assistance Project, Friends Committee on National Legislation, and Engage Action.
The NO BAN Act:
- Places checks and balances on the President’s authority to temporarily suspend or restrict the entry of aliens or classes of aliens into the United States, when it is determined that such individuals “would undermine the security or public safety of the United States or the preservation of human rights, democratic processes or institutions, or international stability.”
- Prohibits discrimination based on religion and extends the prohibition on discrimination beyond the issuance of immigrant visas to include the issuance of nonimmigrant visas, entry and admission into the United States, and the approval or revocation of any immigration benefit.
- Terminates several of President Trump’s proclamations and executive orders including Presidential Proclamation 9645, also known as the “Muslim Ban,” and Presidential Proclamation 9983, barring the entry of immigrants from Burma (Myanmar), Eritrea, Kyrgyzstan, and Nigeria, and suspending participation in the Diversity Visa program for nationals of Sudan and Tanzania.
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