Dear Friend –
Today we’re reflecting on the heartbreaking third anniversary of President Trump’s Muslim Ban. This hateful and discriminatory policy continues to block thousands of people from five majority-Muslim countries from traveling to the United States, separating families and loved ones.
No community should be discriminated against because of their religion or where they come from – but that’s exactly what the Muslim Ban is doing to thousands of people. Making matters worse, President Trump is reportedly planning to expand his Ban by adding even more countries to the list.
Oxfam has long opposed President Trump's anti-Muslim, and anti-refugee rhetoric and policies. We’re distraught that the Muslim Ban remains in effect, but we’re not giving up. Over the past year, we've been pushing for the NO BAN Act, which is the first major piece of legislation that aims to repeal the Trump administration's Muslim Ban and would also prevent any future administration from enacting such discriminatory policies. Speaker Nancy Pelosi just announced today that the House Judiciary Committee will take up this bill in the coming weeks.
With the 2020 election upon us, we’re turning our attention to the next administration and pressuring all of the presidential candidates to commit to repealing the Muslim Ban before its fourth anniversary in 2021. We're hopeful that the No BAN Act will pass the House soon, but in the meantime, we need to pressure all presidential candidates to take a firm stand on this issue.
Join us and demand that the next president immediately ends the Muslim Ban >>
President Trump enacted the first version of his ban within days of taking office. While the legal form of subsequent bans has evolved over time, the discriminatory, anti-Muslim and anti-refugee sentiment behind them is clear.
For so many, the Muslim Ban is personal and heartbreaking. Relatives of US citizens – including grandmothers, spouses, and toddlers – are blocked from entering the country and reuniting with their families. It has impacted our very own Isra Chaker, Oxfam’s Senior Migration and Protection Campaign Lead, who is unable to reunite with her family from Syria because of this policy. “I never thought that the US, the place I call home, would slam its door on my family, and thousands of other families who have already been through unimaginable conflict and trauma,” Isra says.
At its core, the Muslim Ban is rooted in divisiveness, fearmongering, and hate. By slamming the door on millions of people from Muslim-majority nations, the Trump administration is sending a clear signal to the world that it no longer believes the fundamental tenet that all people are created equal. This administration is seemingly willing to take every imaginable action to keep migrants, refugees, and immigrants out – irrespective of whether it is legal, humane, effective, or consistent with American values.
We need to send a strong message to all presidential candidates that our communities and allies stand together in the face of hatred and bigotry.
No matter where or how you live in this world, we are all human. We all deserve to be treated equally with dignity and compassion. This upcoming election provides a chance to ensure that the US lives up to our ideals and reverses cruel policies that keeps families apart.
Your voice is needed to ensure our next president takes a stand against the Muslim Ban >>
Already signed the petition or looking to do more? Amplify the #NoBan message on Twitter and Facebook or forward this email to three friends and ask them to take action with us.
Thank you for speaking up,
Gina Cummings
Director of Campaigns
Oxfam America Action Fund
P.S. We asked the presidential hopefuls if they would repeal the hateful and discriminatory policy. See what they told us>>
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