Rep. Chu Statement on Historic Vote to Repeal President Trump's Muslim Ban & Prevent Future Discrimination

Statement

Today, the U.S. House of Representatives approved the NO BAN Act, legislation introduced by Congressmember Judy Chu (CA-27) and U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) in April 2019 to repeal all versions of the President's Muslim ban and prevent another baseless, discriminatory ban from happening in the future. Congresswoman Chu and Senator Coons issued the following statements:

"Today, almost three and a half years to the day after President Trump issued his first Muslim Ban, the House of Representatives voted to put us on the right side of history by repealing it completely," said Rep. Chu. "This ban never had anything to do with national security; it was always driven by prejudice. That was clear from the first chaotic moments of the first ban's rollout, and confirmed by the Administration's refusal to issue waivers as the Supreme Court required. And it continued for years, as families remained divided without justification. I have heard from so many parents, children, and partners who have been heartbroken at having to miss births, funerals, weddings, and everything in between all because of their religion. Today's vote is a victory for the countless families who have been needlessly separated by this hateful policy, and I am so grateful to Senator Coons, House Judiciary Chairman Jerrold Nadler, and my colleagues who were instrumental in making this happen, Reps. Zoe Lofgren, Andre Carson, Ilhan Omar, Rashida Tlaib, Don Beyer, Pramila Jayapal, Max Rose, and Jamie Raskin. It is now time for the Senate to make it clear that such blatant prejudice is unacceptable and un-American."

"Since President Trump's Muslim ban took effect more than three years ago, tens of thousands of American families have been senselessly separated -- husbands and wives, parents and children, and ailing grandparents -- unable to gather to celebrate, grieve, or support each other during this tumultuous time," Senator Coons said. "Today, Congress sent a strong message that if President Trump won't remove this moral stain from our country, the Congress will. House passage of the NO BAN Act brings us one step closer to reuniting thousands of families, ending this policy that has damaged our national security and reputation around the world, and making clear that in the United States, we do not discriminate based on religion or nationality. I am grateful to Congresswoman Chu, our Senate and House cosponsors, and the hundreds of organizations who have helped us reach this point. The Senate should swiftly take up and pass this bill."

Farhana Khera, Executive Director of Muslim Advocates and witness at the sole House hearing on the Muslim Ban and NO BAN Act, added, "For the first time ever, a chamber of Congress has passed a Muslim civil rights bill. We went office-to-office and district-to-district to gain support for the NO BAN Act and convince House leaders to make it a priority. But most importantly, this vote marks the beginning of the end of the Muslim Ban--a cruel policy that continues to tear families apart. Now we must take the fight to the Senate where we refuse to stop fighting until every senator hears from us and the bill lands on the president's desk."

The National Origin-Based Antidiscrimination for Nonimmigrants (NO BAN) Act repeals all versions of President Trump's Muslim ban, strengthens the Immigration and Nationality Act to prohibit discrimination on the basis of religion, and restores the separation of powers by limiting overly broad executive authority to issue future travel bans. The legislation is supported by nearly 250 members of Congress, more than 400 civil rights, faith-based, national security, and community organizations, 300 religious groups and leaders, more than 50 national security professionals, 50 immigration law professors, 19 state attorneys general, and several companies.

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