Download - Muslim Ban Explained
U.S. Immigration Executive Order Impact
January 27, 2017Wafa Hozien, Ph.D.
Educational Leadership Central Michigan University
What is an executive order?•An executive order is an official statement from the
president which tells government agencies how to use their resources. In the case of “Muslim Ban” the order bars citizens of seven Muslim-majority countries from entering the US for a period of 90 days. • It suspends the United States' refugee system for a period
of 120 days. Trump says his "extreme vetting" system will help "keep radical Islamic terrorists out of the US".
Is the executive order legally binding? • Executive orders are legally binding and are recorded in the Federal
Register, a daily record of all federal regulations, proposals, and public notices.• But they can be subjected to a legal review according to the New York
Times, the "Muslim ban" order is illegal. • The Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965 banned all
discrimination against immigrants on the basis of national origin.• Trump's travel ban appears to be a violation of that act.
Issues• None of the terrorist incidents suffered by the U.S. in recent
times, including the horrible Sept. 11 attacks•Were perpetuated by citizens from the seven designated
countries. • The ban could have other harmful consequences. • It applies to people who fought alongside American troops in
dangerous situations•Who acted heroically, saving our men and women in
uniform.
How does it affect refugees?• The ban completely suspends the United States' Syrian
refugee program, which accepted 12,486 Syrians in 2016. • Gives preference to accepting Christian refugees from the
Middle East over Muslim refugees. • Reduces cap on the total number of refugees allowed to
enter the US in 2017 from 110,000 to just 50,000.
Who does it affect?
• The order refers to a statute which applies to seven Muslim-majority nations.• Syria, Iran, Sudan, Libya, Somalia, Yemen and Iraq, with dual
nationals included in the ban.• There have been reports of legal US residents, known as green card
holders, being turned away from US-bound flights. •Green cards are not mentioned explicitly in the executive order. •Oddly, the ban does not apply to the nationalities of those who
carried out the 9/11 attacks:• Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Egypt.
Who does it affect?• Approximately thirteen percent • of the world’s Muslims, or 199.4 million • out of up to 1.6 billion,• live in those seven countries
Pew Research Report (2015 )“The Future of World Religions: Population Growth Projections, 2010-2050.”
Applied• These people have already been vetted• They have visas• They have Green Cards• Punishing People that have followed the rules• Families are being separated
What the Ban Did
• Suspended the entire US refugee admissions system • for 120 days• even though it was already one of the most rigorous vetting• regimens in the world, • taking 18 to 24 months and requiring interviews and background
checks through multiple federal agencies. • Trump has said he wants more strictures
What is Happening?• Suspended the Syrian refugee program indefinitely. • The US accepted 12,486 Syrian refugees in 2016, compared
with about 300,000 received by Germany the same year. • Since the Syrian civil war began, Turkey has received about 2.7 million
refugees, • Lebanon 1 million refugees• Jordan 650,000, according to UN estimates.
Banned• From Entry seven majority-Muslim countries • Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen – for 90 days. • After perhaps the vaguest of Trump’s orders, there was much
confusion in the first 36 hours over whether legal US residents would be allowed to enter the US. • They were initially denied entry, but on Sunday night, the Department
of Homeland Security (DHS) announced that some “legal permanent residents” who pose no “serious threat” to the US would be allowed in on a case-by-case basis. • It is unclear whether this would extend to those in possession of work
or student visas. The order would let the Department of Homeland Security ban more countries at any time
What happens next?• Opponents of the "extreme vetting" order say they will launch a legal
challenge on two fronts. They are expected to argue that the blanket ban violates the fifth amendment right to due process.• They will also argue that the order's preferential treatment of
Christians over Muslims violates the first amendment on freedom of religion.
What You Can Do•Tell people to donate to organizations like ACLU
and CAIR •Sign petitions•Support and stand up for one another
If you See something Say Something
• It is now your responsibility• If you see discrimination in your daily life•Take Action, Stand Up to the Oppressor, vocalize yourself•Don’t Just Stand By•We the People, Are Greater than Fear.
Call Congress• Tell Them You are against this Executive Order that keeps immigrants
out.• This is not what the United States stands for.• That the U.S. does not discriminate against religion and national
origin.
No one Wants to be a Refugee• The United States has a humanitarian obligation to assist refugees
displaced by war.• Not Charity, Basic Human Rights• Every Minute, 24 people are displaced.
Since Election• University campuses are places where men and women of all races and
religions should be able to exchange ideas and learn from one another.• Police are looking into multiple assaults on Muslim women taken place
on university campuses• Muslim student at San Diego State University was robbed by two men:
Backpack, purse and car stolen• Men beat Muslim woman • University of Louisiana, Lafayette with • "metal object," and tore off her hijab
What is Happening now?• Ann Donnelly, federal judge, NY blocked action against deportations
based on the order because the government could not guarantee the foreigners would be safe from irreparable harm if deported.• AG Sally Yates Fired• WH Press Secretary Sean Spicer: “Either get with the program or they can
go.”• Some faculty members are calling for a boycott of academic conferences
in the United States in reaction to an executive order, signed on Friday by President Trump.• Undermined: whistleblower protections for federal employees
Sense of Upheaval – DHS and Ethical Code
• Legal blog Lawfare published a dissent memo complied by several officers in • State Department, which blasts the Trump administration for endorsing a
policy • “which closes our doors to over 200 million legitimate travelers” • and “runs counter to core American values of nondiscrimination, fair play, and
extending a warm welcome to foreign visitors and immigrants.”• “We are better than this ban,” the memo adds. 900 Signed it.• Government workers must put loyalty to the law and the country • ‘above loyalty to persons, party, or Government Department’.
References• Cilliza, Chris. (Jan 31, 2017). Donald Trump firing Sally Yates isn’t the big story. How he did it is. The
Washington Post. Retrieved from: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2017/01/31/donald-trump-firing-sally-yates-isnt-the-big-story-how-he-did-it-is/?utm_term=.5be53dfc8116• Davidson, Joe. (Jan 31, 2017). To resist or not, the federal employee’s dilemma. The Washington
Post. Retrieved from: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/powerpost/wp/2017/01/31/to-resist-or-not-the-federal-employees-dilemma/?tid=sm_tw&utm_term=.6a77f3fe51cf• NYU Students:
https://nyulocal.com/muslim-students-at-tandon-find-trump-written-on-door-of-prayer-room-471185a85256#.ubhnifu4h• NYT (Nov 10, 2016). Campuses Confront Hostile Acts Against Minorities After Donald Trump’s
Election. New York Times. Retrieved from: https://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/11/us/police-investigate-attacks-on-muslim-students-at-universities.html?_r=0• Vice (Nov 10, 2016). Muslim Women Have Been Attacked at Multiple Colleges Since Trump Won.
Retrieved from: https://www.vice.com/en_ca/article/muslim-women-have-been-attacked-at-multiple-colleges-since-trump-won-vgtrn• Yuhus, Alan. (Jan 30, 2017). Muslim Ban Explained. The Guardian. Retrieved from: https://
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/jan/28/trump-immigration-ban-syria-muslims-reaction-lawsuits
Executive Order on ImmigrationJanuary 27, 2017
ImpactWafa Hozien, Ph.D.
Educational Leadership Central Michigan University
