Senators Shaheen, Murphy Introduce Bill to Block President Trump’s Re-Issued Muslim Travel Ban
(Washington, DC) – After President Donald Trump re-issued his harmful restriction on refugees and immigrants from six Muslim-majority nations in Africa and the Middle East, Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) joined Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT) and 14 senators on Tuesday in introducing legislation to reverse the executive order and block its implementation. Specifically, the bill would withhold funding to enforce the executive order. The bill also declares the executive order illegal based on the 1965 Immigration and Nationality Act, which banned discrimination against immigrants on the basis of national origin.
“The Trump administration’s revised Muslim ban does nothing to improve national security, and makes us less safe by reinforcing terrorist propaganda and recruitment,” said Shaheen. “Immigrants make up the fabric of this country, and they continue to enrich our communities and strengthen our economy. Our bill would immediately suspend this arbitrary and reckless travel ban.”
Original cosponsors of the bill include U.S. Senators Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Tom Carper (D-Del.), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), and Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.).
The Senators argue that immigration based on religion or country of origin violates the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965 and fuels ISIS recruitment propaganda, putting our nation at risk. A panel from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit recently blocked President Trump’s previous immigration order, citing that the ban “runs contrary to the fundamental structure of our constitutional democracy.” The U.S. Department of Homeland Security also recently released a memo concluding that citizenship in one of the Muslim-majority countries listed on President Trump’s travel ban is an “unlikely indicator” of terrorism threats to the U.S.
