The Trump administration’s new travel ban is set to go into effect on March 16, and once again civil rights groups are gearing up to protest over the terms.
In the Washington, D.C., area, the DC Justice for Muslims Coalition, a local chapter of UNITE HERE!, and SURJ-Northern Virginia are partnering to host a protest at Dulles Airport, a major port for incoming immigrants, refugees, and those on travel visas — as well as top international diplomats.
“The second Executive Order, also known as Muslim Ban 2.0, will go into effect on March 16th, throwing into tumult and despair again, communities that are directly impacted by the ban,” the text of the Facebook event says.
“We keep hearing that this ban is "better", but there is no better racism, xenophobia and outright discrimination, even if its differently worded. There are no concessions when it comes to a Muslim Ban.”
This executive order is strikingly similar to the first order signed by President Trump on Jan. 26, which ordered "extreme vetting" for refugees, indefinitely blocked entry to Syrian refugees, suspended visa issuances to anyone from seven countries, and suspended all refugee entry for 120 days.
Some changes have been made, reflecting a desire to craft an order that will hold up under legal challenge. Included is new language that claims the FBI is investigating as many as 300 refugees in the U.S. on terror-related charges, as well as a call for a report on the number of honor killings in the U.S. carried out by “foreign nationals” — something civil liberties advocates claim is another attempt to target Muslims.
In an animated video last year, then-Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh Johnson narrated a 4-minute video explaining how refugees hoping to enter the United States must “undergo a security screening process that is more thorough than any other for people entering this country” — one that includes tests and interviews conducted by five different governmental departments.
“America has become a better nation by welcoming refugees in a time of crisis,” Johnson says in the video.
“We can and we will continue to ensure our own security, while doing our share to welcome men, women, and children who are refugees fleeing violence. This is the United States of America. We can, we must, and we will do both these things.”
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