News & Resources
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 27, 2025
PRESS CONTACT
Spencer Tilger | media@refugeerights.org
EIGHT YEARS AFTER THE MUSLIM BAN, IRAP CONTINUES FIGHT
(New York, NY) – Eight years ago today, on January 27, 2017, a newly-inaugurated President Donald Trump signed his infamous Muslim ban executive order, affecting thousands of travelers whose permission to enter the United States was revoked while they were already on airplanes and in transit.
The International Refugee Assistance Project (IRAP) was proud to be at the forefront of the fight against the ban, recruiting thousands of attorneys and everyday Americans to airports around the country to push back against the discriminatory and illegal act and to instead stand up for the rights and dignity of all people seeking safety. IRAP also filed two legal challenges to the ban and has spent the last eight years working alongside partners to undo the damage it inflicted on Muslim and refugee families.
Eight years later, the second Trump administration is hellbent on advancing the same bigoted agenda on overdrive. On day one, the administration announced the suspension of refugee admissions and foreign assistance, both of which are already affecting the ability of displaced people to access safety in the United States. Trump’s initial executive orders also purport to lay the groundwork for another visa ban likely targeting Muslim-majority countries.
The following is a statement from Laurie Ball Cooper, Vice President for U.S. Legal Programs at IRAP:
“Eight years ago, IRAP played a key role in the fight against Trump’s Muslim ban. More than a thousand lawyers responded to our call to head to airports around the country to offer legal support to affected travelers and their families, supported by thousands more Americans who rejected the Trump administration’s politics of division and fear. Together, we sent a powerful message to the government and to the world: ‘Let them in!’
This was a historic movement that energized the country to stand up for refugees and established a blueprint for how to effectively and strategically fight back against unchecked executive power. We showed that the U.S. does welcome immigrants and will stand up when their rights are threatened. Today, IRAP stands ready to continue leveraging our expertise and battle-tested legal advocacy strategies to uphold the rights and dignity of people seeking safety and fight for a more welcoming future for all.”
Additional Resources
- Read more about IRAP’s fight against the 2017 Muslim ban: HERE
- Read IRAP’s explainer on the USRAP suspension: HERE
- Read IRAP’s explainer on the Trump administration’s new policies affecting parole: HERE
The International Refugee Assistance Project (IRAP) is a global legal aid and advocacy organization working to create a world where refugees and all people seeking safety are empowered to claim their right to freedom of movement and a path to lasting refuge. Everyone should have a safe place to live and a safe way to get there.
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