Coalition of Over 100 Muslim and Immigrants’ Rights Groups Urges Congress to Once Again Pass the Historic NO BAN Act

The First-Ever Muslim Civil Rights Bill Would Prevent Future Presidents From Enacting Discriminatory Immigration Bans

WASHINGTON, DC — Members of the No Muslim Ban Ever coalition, the largest grassroots campaign that worked to repeal the Trump administration’s Muslim and African Bans, welcome today’s reintroduction of the NO BAN Act and urge members of Congress to pass the historic civil rights legislation as quickly as possible. The bill was reintroduced by Rep. Judy Chu (CA-27), is co-sponsored by 137 House members, and is led in the Senate by Senator Chris Coons (D-DE).

If passed, the NO BAN Act would limit dangerously broad authority in U.S. immigration law so that no future president can issue bans that bar the entry of people to the U.S. based on their religion or national origin. Although President Biden rescinded the Muslim and African Bans on his first day in office, Muslim, African, and other immigrant communities want to ensure that no new discriminatory bans can be issued in the future.

The NO BAN Act previously passed in the U.S. House of Representatives on July 22, 2020, and is also included in President Biden’s U.S. Citizenship Act of 2021, a broad immigration bill introduced in Congress last week that would improve the lives of millions of immigrants and their families.

In response to the reintroduction of the NO BAN Act today, co-leading organizations of the No Muslim Ban Ever coalition issued the following statements:

Linda Sarsour, Co-Founder and Executive Director of MPower Change, states: “It has been a long four years and the NO BAN Act is a testament to the hard work and commitment of Muslim activists, Muslim-led organizations, and our allies. It’s not enough to rescind the Muslim and African Ban, we must ensure that no future president can ever do this again, and that is why we will do everything we can to pass this legislation.”

Aarti Kohli, Executive Director of Asian Americans Advancing Justice - Asian Law Caucus, states: “The Muslim and African Bans tore families apart over the past four years and were one of the clearest embodiments of racism, Islamophobia, and xenophobia in the previous administration. Repealing the bans started the healing process, but our immigrant families deserve to live without the fear that something like this could ever happen again. Congress must pass the NO BAN Act to continue the healing process and prevent future discrimination against our communities.”

Marielena Hincapié, Executive Director of the National Immigration Law Center, states: “The Muslim and African Bans kept countless people separated from their loved ones in service of a divisive and discriminatory political agenda. While we celebrated their rescission on President Biden’s first day in office, we know families are still being harmed by bans issued under the same authority that remain in place. In addition to rescinding these bans, we must prevent future presidents from abusing and weaponizing this dangerously overbroad executive power. We urge Congress to swiftly pass the NO BAN Act to ensure that these harmful, discriminatory bans are definitively behind us.”

Zahra Billoo, Executive Director of the Council on American Islamic Relations-San Francisco Bay Area, states: “President Biden's reversal of the Muslim and African Ban was an important first step, and now, it is critical that Congress pass the NO BAN Act to provide relief to families who have been living with uncertainty and fear for years. We must prevent future presidents from imposing bans that discriminate against people because of their faith."

The NO BAN (National Origin-Based Antidiscrimination for Nonimmigrants) Act was first introduced in April 2019 by Rep. Judy Chu (D-CA).