ACLU Supporter –

This week was the four-year anniversary of one of Trump's most outrageous signature policies: the Muslim ban. And while President Biden fulfilled his promise to rescind the ban on day one, fighting for those who were directly impacted cannot end there.

For four years, families were split up. People were unable to celebrate life events, mourn the loss of loved ones, or seek safe refuge. That's why we at the ACLU wanted to take a moment now to reflect on everything the ban represented – and everyone it harmed. There is much more we have to do to right these wrongs so that people receive justice.

Below is a brief timeline of events around the Muslim ban – followed by the words of those whose lives were derailed by it. Stories that you can read in full here.

• January 27, 2017: A week into his presidency, Trump issues the Muslim ban. Thousands like you flood airports in protest and attorneys nationwide file lawsuits. The ACLU and partner organizations bring the first challenge before a federal judge – receiving a historic late-night injunction in Brooklyn, successfully blocking the ban temporarily.

"I had dreamed that my two young children would get to live away from the war and poverty in Yemen ... But we are still living in Yemen, where the country is deteriorating every day." – Anwar. Read more.

• June 2018: In the months to follow, numerous courts reject Trump's ban and every pursuant iteration it comes up with as the ACLU and other organizations fight back. Ultimately, in June of 2018, the Supreme Court allows the third iteration of the ban to go into effect, reminiscent of previous failures like Japanese incarceration.

"We were so excited to bring my parents over through a family-based immigration process. By the time we could apply, the Muslim ban went into effect ... we're still separated." – Farah. Read more.

• January 2020: Following the Supreme Court's decision, the Trump administration is empowered to further expand the ban – barring people from 13 countries total, explicitly targeting African countries. This remains in effect until President Biden rescinds the ban one year later on Inauguration Day 2021.

"I just want to be a citizen like everybody else. It's my right to live here with my fiancé. I have no choice but to keep trying. I won't give up." – Neda. Read more.

ACLU Supporter, we cannot forget the damage this abhorrent policy caused – nor can we let up on securing the justice still needed for those it most hurt.

That's why the stories of Anwar, Farah, Neda, and others are so important to read. Because for four years we've drastically moved backwards, and it will be critical for the new administration to do more than just rescind the ban. We must move into the future.

That means it must reopen cases and restore lost visas, waive fees for those who were denied, and expedite processing, among other forms of relief. And discrimination against Muslims, especially Black and Brown people, must end across the board.

It's time for bold change – and we're grateful to have you with us as we continue that fight.

Onward,

Manar Waheed
Pronouns: She, her, hers
Senior Legislative and Advocacy Counsel, ACLU