9 Oct, 2017
American-Islamic Council Files Legal Challenge to Trump’s ‘Muslim Ban 3.0’
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 10/8/17) — The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today announced the filing of a federal lawsuit on behalf of six individuals challenging the lawfulness of President Trump’s most recent attempt to implement a “Muslim ban.”
The lawsuit was filed in U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland. [NOTE: The plaintiffs are represented by lawyers with Profeta & Eisenstein, the Brennan Center for Justice at NYU School of Law, and CAIR].
For a copy of the lawsuit, click here.
While this latest executive action now includes two countries — Venezuela and North Korea — that are not Muslim majority, nationals of those countries do not face categorical bans. North Koreans, who last year received only about 100 US visas last year, can still obtain diplomatic visas and only some Venezuelan government officials and their families are affected by the ban.
The plaintiffs include Eblal Zakzok, a U.S. permanent resident who fled Syria after being detained and tortured there. He is now trying to bring his daughter to the United States on an immigrant visa that the Proclamation will make impossible to get.
Another plaintiff, Fahed Muqbil, has a wife of Yemeni origin who has also applied for an immigrant visa the proclamation will prevent her from getting. For Muqbil and his wife, who gave birth to a child last year with severe birth defects, her inability to get that visa precludes her from tending to the needs of their daughter as she undergoes intensive treatment and surgery in the United States.
“The United States is not made safer by preventing citizens from bringing their loved ones to this country,” said CAIR National Litigation Director Lena Masri.
“This Proclamation — the latest iteration of the Trump Administration’s Muslim Ban — is fooling no one. It is clear that this executive action is simply another attempt to stigmatize Muslims and disfavor Islam,” said CAIR National Senior Litigation Attorney Gadeir Abbas.
The lawsuit is the latest CAIR legal filing challenging the Trump Administration’s efforts to implement its Muslim Ban.
In September, CAIRwith the Brennan Center for Justice at NYU School of Law and Profeta & Eisensteinfiled an amicus brief with U.S. Supreme Court on behalf of seven American Muslims.
READ Amicus Brief
These groups also filed an amicus brief in the Ninth Circuit in August.
Read CAIR’s Amicus Brief
In January, just days after Trump signed the first Muslim ban executive order, CAIR filed suit.
SEE: CAIR Files Federal Suit Challenging Constitutionality of Trump’s ‘Muslim Ban’ Executive Order
CAIR is America’s largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.
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