Updated December 12/10/2019:
On June 28, 2018, the Supreme Court upheld Presidential Proclamation 9645 which restricted immigration from eight countries – Libya, Iran, Syria, Somalia, Yemen, North Korea, Venezuela and Chad. The Proclamation is often referred to as “Muslim Travel Ban” since President Trump had called for such a ban, attempted two prior versions of the proclamation which were more clearly directed at Muslims, and included North Korea and Venezuela which while not Muslim countries are also not the source of terrorists. Nevertheless, the Supreme Court said that “The President has lawfully exercised the broad discretion granted to him . . . to suspend the entry of aliens into the United States.”
The order does not apply to lawful permanent residents (“green card” holders) from the affected countries, or to people who have dual citizenship with a country that is not banned. It also does not apply to those inside the U.S. currently, and who had a valid visa on the date of the original order (January 27) and still had a valid visa on the date this order goes into effect. It permits case-by-case waivers of the travel ban.
- Full Text of the Order
- New York Times analysis with graphics
- Washington Post article (9/26/2019) demonstrating it is “really a Muslim ban”
- Article with analysis of the ban
Currently before Congress is H.R. 2214 the “National Origin-Based Antidiscrimination for Nonimmigrants Act” or NO BAN Act. Sponsored in the House by Rep. Judy Chu of California and the Senate version by Sen. Chris Coons of Delaware, the bill would “…transfer and limit Executive Branch authority to suspend or restrict the entry of a class of aliens.” So far more than 200 House members have been confirmed as co-sponsors of the act. “
ORGANIZATIONS FIGHTING THE BANS: