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John,
Trump and his Muslim ban are gone, but the damaging impact lingers on for many. This includes thousands of individuals selected for diversity visas during the Trump administration who were blocked from securing their promised visas by the Muslim ban and other Trump immigration orders. However, the fight for justice has continued, with the House Appropriations committee passing two recent amendments to rectify the issue.
Read on for a breakdown of the latest developments around the Diversity Visa then join us in urging Congress to make visas available to those blocked by Trump’s bans.
What is the Diversity Visa?
It’s a type of visa that people from countries with historically low immigration rates to the U.S. can apply for. It’s highly competitive, with only around 50,000 people being selected in the visa “lottery” each year. Most Diversity Visa recipients would not be able to enter the U.S. through other ways, which makes it all the more valuable.
Why were Diversity Visa recipients blocked by the ban?
The cruelty appears to have been the point. Recipients were elated to be selected for a diversity visa, with many selling off possessions, going into debt, or traveling through war zones to finance their trips to visa appointments. However, that elation quickly turned to despair as they realized they were in fact ineligible due to Trump’s bans. Worse still, eligibility for a visa is time-bound. The Biden administration has indicated it needs Congress to act to make visas available to those who were selected but unable to secure their visas due to Trump’s immigration orders.
What is Congress doing about it?
Last week, the House Appropriations Committee approved two amendments to the 2022 Homeland Security funding bill that would fix this issue. One amendment would restore family-based, employment-based and diversity visas lost due to COVID-19 restrictions. The second would make unused visas available to diversity visa recipients who were denied visas due to Trump’s discriminatory immigration orders, including the Muslim ban.
What are the chances these amendments pass into law?
Progress in the House of Representatives is encouraging, but the amendments still face a long road to passage. However, passage through a House committee has generated positive momentum. Given that many of those impacted are outside the country, it is important for civil society organizations— including NIAC— to push for a solution, share the stories of those impacted and advocate for a fix so that the United States lives up to its commitments.
📌 You know the facts, now take action. Click here to tell Congress: fulfill our promise to Diversity Visa recipients and make visas available to those blocked by Trump’s bans.
As always, thank you for your support. We'll keep you posted as more developments emerge.
Best,
Ryan Costello
Policy Director, NIAC
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