John, 

Last week marked the sixth anniversary of the Muslim Ban. The date is a reminder that the Trump administration’s anti-immigrant legacy lingers today, as xenophobic policies continue to tear apart families and communities. As New Yorkers, we protested this blatant act of xenophobia, but our communities will not be safe without a pathway to citizenship.

Six years ago, Trump passed Executive Order 13769, barring travelers and refugees from seven Muslim-majority countries from entering the United States. New Yorkers did not hesitate to respond to one of the cruelest, most blatant acts of xenophobia we’ve seen in modern American history; immigrant advocates, allies and partners jumped into action at JFK Airport — whether it was to provide free legal counsel or make their voices heard outside — and that spirit continues today as ordinary New Yorkers step in to support asylum seekers to navigate and integrate into New York.
 

To this day, those who were impacted by the Muslim Ban continue to reel from it. There are tens of thousands of people who haven't been able to reunite with their families. We renew our calls for Congress and President Biden to fight for ALL of us, to reunite all families who continue to be separated by the African and Muslim Bans, to enshrine permanent protections for immigrants, and to end other dangerous Trump-era policies like Title 42. The legacy of the Muslim Ban and its reckless endangerment of people’s lives must not be forgotten!

Murad Awawdeh
Executive Director