HIAS Applauds House of Representatives For Passing NO BAN Act

SILVER SPRING, Md. — The Trump Administration has, at different times and through different means, banned Muslims, refugees, and asylum seekers from entering the United States over the past three years. The NO BAN Act, which the U.S. House of Representatives passed today, would rescind the president’s bans and limit future presidents from implementing similar bans by requiring greater scrutiny and congressional oversight. HIAS applauds this victory for the bill and urges the Senate to enact this important legislation.

“It took more than a year for this legislation to come to a vote, and its clear message that religious discrimination has no place in immigration policy has never been more important,” said Melanie Nezer, HIAS’ senior vice president for public affairs. “No group should be banned from the United States because of their religion or based solely on where they come from. Immigrants and refugees of all faiths and backgrounds have enriched this country and our laws and policies should allow them to continue to do so."

The latest version of the NO BAN Act does contain language permitting certain groups to be barred entry to the United States in order to contain "communicable diseases." This language, added at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, is unnecessary and stigmatizes immigrants. Despite this language, however, the NO BAN Act repeals all versions of the Muslim, refugee, and asylum bans and for that reason has our support.