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Press Release: IRAP Applauds Federal Judge in Maryland for Partially Blocking Third Muslim Ban

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                                     

October 18, 2017

PRESS CONTACT

Henrike Dessaules

hdessaules@refugeerights.org

646.459.3081

IRAP APPLAUDS FEDERAL JUDGE IN MARYLAND FOR PARTIALLY BLOCKING THIRD MUSLIM BAN

(New York, NY) – Last night, Maryland District Court Judge Theodore Chuang ruled in favor of a partial preliminary injunction against the President’s September 24 Proclamation, which sought to enforce sweeping and indefinite travel restrictions on eight nations, disproportionately affecting Muslim-majority countries. The judge’s decision allows nationals of the affected Muslim-majority countries with bona fide relationships to U.S. persons and entities to obtain visas and enter the country.

The International Refugee Assistance Project (IRAP) at the Urban Justice Center applauds this decision, as it affirms that this policy is discriminatory in nature and harmful to millions of people.

“No matter how many times the administration tries to dress it up in a different outfit, it’s still a Muslim ban,” said Becca Heller, IRAP’s Director, “We will continue challenging it until this cruel and senseless policy is indefinitely blocked. We’ve cleared our schedules.”

The judge’s decision comes in response to an amended complaint filed by IRAP, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), and the National Immigration Law Center (NILC), on behalf of IRAP, HIAS, the Middle East Studies Association, Yemeni American Merchants Association, the Arab American Association of New York, and individual plaintiffs. The judge partially blocked the order following a consolidated hearing with two other lawsuits challenging the ban.

Yesterday, Federal Judge Derrick Watson in Hawaii also blocked the order from taking effect, granting motion for a temporary restraining order. This order provides relief for all nationals of the banned countries, except North Korea and Venezuela.

This injunction not only reaffirms our country’s commitment to inclusivity and religious tolerance, but it also provides relief to millions of individuals and families who have been affected by the discriminatory ban. This ruling stands as an encouraging testament to the legal challenges before us, and we will continue to fight against all unlawful iterations of the Muslim ban the government may propose.

The government’s appeal in Trump v. Hawaii remains pending before the Supreme Court, which includes a challenge to the second Executive Order’s refugee ban. The ban does not expire until October 24.

To view the press release, click here.

International Refugee Assistance Project at the Urban Justice Center

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