For nearly two decades and over three presidencies, the #US federal and state governments have violated the freedoms of their citizens and lawful residents by systematically implementing federal measures and state laws that disproportionately discriminate against #Muslims.
Since 2001, 15 federal measures have been implemented that target and discriminate against Muslim individuals and communities. The most recent one is Trump's #travelban. These measures expose Muslims to unwarranted #surveillance, #profiling, #exclusion, and #discrimination based on #race, #ethnicity, #nationalorigin, and #religion. In addition, 223 anti-Sharia bills have been introduced in the US since 2010. Of these, 20 bills have been enacted into law in 13 states. These bills erect legal barriers specifically aimed at preventing Muslims from fully and freely practicing their religion.
Although the first and second iterations of the Muslim ban were struck down by federal judges who said it amounted to religious discrimination against Muslims, the Supreme Court upheld the third version of the policy in June 2018. Three years after Trump first issued his Muslim ban, its dangerous impacts continue to grow, further institutionalizing xenophobia and Islamophobia in the US. At the start of 2020, the Trump administration announced it would expand the ban, affecting six more countries in Africa and Asia.
Under the ban, millions of people fleeing violence; hoping to reunite with their families, access medical treatment, pursue their careers; are banned from entering the United States.
The number of refugees from Muslim majority countries seeking protection in the US has declined, as has the number of visas issued to nationals of Muslim majority countries.
The Muslim ban not only impacts people attempting to enter the US, but also those currently there. Muslim Americans residing in the US have been cut off from their families and friends who are barred from entering the country.
Even though the ban is getting less media attention now, we need to be aware of its possible dangers and further dangerous consequences.