Dear Community Members and Friends,
Yesterday, Donald Trump signed another Executive Order, aiming to ban Muslims from entering the United States. This order is a scaled-back version of the president’s first Muslim ban that prompted an inspiring wave of solidarity from American civil rights defenders of all backgrounds. Packed town halls, marches, and advocacy from the people pressured the government to protect our rights as Muslims. Eventually, the courts stopped the last ban in its tracks. To those who continue to stand for our rights, the rights of all the oppressed, and refugees fleeing violence, thank you.
While the newest ban is a partial victory for civil rights defenders, the order remains in fact a ban on travel from Muslim and Arab countries and a blanket ban on all refugees who need our assistance the most. The Department of Homeland Security reports that this ban does nothing to make America safer. Rather, it reflects that a current of xenophobia and Islamophobia runs through this administration and that our community ought counter alongside our allies in the civil rights movement.
We encourage you to take direct action by signing this powerful petition to Trump’s corporate advisors and calling or writing your members of Congress to let them know you oppose the xenophobic travel ban on Muslims and refugees.
More details about the order’s execution will be revealed in the near future, but below, you will find some essential information based on what we know now.
Phase-in Period
The Muslim Ban 2.0 will not go into effect until March 16, 2017 and the older order, signed on January 27, 2017 has been replaced.
Travel Restrictions
- Ban will not apply to lawful permanent residents and current visa holders. Additionally, according to ADC, the 60,000 visas which were revoked after the first ban was signed are now reinstated.
- Ban on all travel visas from Iran, Yemen, Syria, Libya, Sudan, and Somalia.
- Iraq was dropped from the list, but visa applicants will face additional processing.
- A 90-day travel restriction for nationals of banned countries starts on March 16, 2017 at 12:01 a.m. EST.
- Green card holders (also known as Legal Permanent Residents) will not banned from entry.
- Dual nationals who enter the U.S. using a passport from a non-designated country will not be banned from entry.
- Travelers and immigrants granted a visa before January 27, 2017 will not be banned from entry.
- Ban waivers will be considered on a case-by-case basis for medical care, business, and study. However, we do not yet have any information about the waiver process.
Refugee Restrictions
- A 120-day stoppage of entry for all refugees will begin March 16, 2017.
- Syrian refugees are no longer specifically excluded for an indefinite period of time.
- The number of refugees to be admitted to the United States for fiscal year 2017 has been reduced to 50,000.
Seeking Legal Help
Please contact our organization if:
- You or someone you know are impacted by this executive order with a specific case and are seeking legal advice and assistance.
- Your community would like us to deliver a “Know Your Rights” presentation.
We remain committed to challenging this ban and protecting the civil rights of all communities that we serve. Please do not hesitate to reach out.
Sincerely,
Ryan Houldin
Staff Attorney, CAIR-Philadelphia
Phone: 267-515-6710
