TRUMP "MUSLIM BAN" LIFTED TEMPORARILY

Over the weekend a federal court in the State of Washington stopped President Trump’s three part ban on immigration of certain nationals.  This Judge’s Temporary Restraining Order was affirmed by an appellate court shortly thereafter. 

Because this TRO is temporary, MU Law urges all nationals in the three classes listed below immediately to attempt to enter the United States.  The TRO could be rescinded at any time. If the TRO is rescinded, the ban will go back into effect, in part or in whole.

The three classes of individuals impacted by the ban:

•   Barring nationals of seven countries from entering the US for 90 days.  The seven countries are: Iran, Iraq, Sudan, Syria, Libya, Somalia, and Yemen.  These nationals are barred regardless of whether they have cleared background checks and hold valid nonimmigrant (temporary) or immigrant (permanent) visas.

•   Suspending the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP) for 120 days.  This provision also says that once the 120 day period has ended, that the US government must prioritize refugee claims “made by individuals on the basis of religious-based persecution, provided that the religion of the individual is a minority religion in the individual’s country of nationality.”  Since Islam is the majority religion in many countries, this provision appears aimed at prioritizing Christians’ refugee claims, which President Trump has stated is one of his goals. 

•   Permanent suspension of all Syrian refugees until such time as President Trump sees fit to lift the permanent ban on Syrians.