Washington, D.C. Jan. 27, 2020 – Speaker Nancy Pelosi issued this statement marking three years since President Trump signed orders instituting the Muslim travel ban, making it more difficult for families, including refugees, from seven predominantly Muslim countries to enter the United States based on their religion or religious heritage:
“Three years ago, in a stunning act of callousness and discrimination, President Trump and his Administration issued an outrageous travel ban, targeting majority-Muslim nations and undermining our values, our security and our Constitution.
“Today, reports indicate that the Administration is once again preparing to expand its dangerous travel ban, threatening key international relationships and jeopardizing our ability to fight terrorism and extremism at home and abroad. President Trump and his Administration’s continued disdain for our nation’s national security and our founding ideals of liberty and justice dishonor our proud immigrant heritage and the diversity that strengthens and enriches our communities. Despite the Administration’s hateful policies and dangerous rhetoric, this fundamental truth remains: immigrants make America more American.
“House Democrats continue to stand opposed to President Trump’s cruel, un-American travel ban in all of its iterations. In the coming weeks, the House Judiciary Committee will mark up and bring to the Floor the NO BAN Act to prohibit religious discrimination in our immigration system and limit the President’s ability to impose such biased and bigoted restrictions. In his last address as President, Ronald Reagan warned that ‘If we ever close the door to new Americans, our leadership in the world would soon be lost.’ House Democrats are working tirelessly to uphold our role as a global leader and a beacon of hope and opportunity for countless people around the world.”