Dear John,

A week from today, the Muslim ban will get its very first Congressional hearing. 

It has been a long road since Donald Trump first banned our families in January 2017, causing chaos at airports across the nation and sparking major protests against his discriminatory ban.

This hearing is one milestone on the road to overturning the ban once and for all, and NIAC has been pushing for it along with our friends and allies since before the new Congress was sworn in nine months ago. We wouldn’t have secured this key moment without your support.

It hasn’t been easy with Washington lurching from one crisis to the next under Trump. However, our staff and partners in the ACLU, National Immigration Law Center, and Muslim Advocates along with many other organizations have kept the spotlight on the ban, briefed committee staff, suggested witnesses impacted by the ban and ultimately secured this moment for accountability for our community and all others affected.

We worked to ensure our community will be represented and have a seat at the table at this hearing - ensuring there is an Iranian-American witness to deliver testimony and submitting your stories on the impact of the ban into the official record.

We continue to gain support from Members of Congress on repealing the ban, with nearly three-quarters of the Democratic caucus in the House now backing legislation to repeal it. That’s good—but not good enough. We need to make the most of this hearing and push Congress to finally move forward for a vote.

That’s why I hope you can again take action to keep the heat on Congress ahead of the hearing. Here’s a few ways you can help:

1. Take our action alert to urge your legislators to press for a vote to end the ban.

2. Watch and share the hearing on the ban [or, attend our press conference and the hearing itself if near DC].

3. Share your story.

There is no defense for the Muslim ban, but if we don’t continue to force the issue, nobody else will. If our community unites, we can end Trump’s disgraceful and discriminatory ban once and for all.

In solidarity,

Donna Farvard
National Organizing Director