US lawmakers reintroduce bill to prevent religious travel bans by Trump administration

TEXAS: As the Trump administration moves towards reinstating the controversial Muslim Ban, Democratic lawmakers have reintroduced the National Origin-Based Antidiscrimination for Nonimmigrants (NO BAN) Act to prevent future presidents from imposing travel bans based on religion.

Congresswoman Judy Chu (CA-28) and Senator Chris Coons (DE) led the reintroduction of the bill, which aims to amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to explicitly prohibit discrimination based on religion when issuing visas or other immigration benefits. The bill also ensures that any travel restriction is justified by credible evidence and is subject to congressional oversight.

The NO BAN Act is co-sponsored by several prominent lawmakers, including Reps. Jerry Nadler (NY-12), Don Beyer (VA-08), Ilhan Omar (MN-05), André Carson (IN-07), and Rashida Tlaib (MI-12).

Trump’s executive order signals new travel ban

On his first day back in office, President Trump issued an executive order directing government agencies to identify within 60 days the countries whose security and immigration screening measures are deemed inadequate, potentially leading to new travel bans targeting Muslim-majority nations. 

Rep Judy Chu condemned the move, stating: “The Muslim Ban imposed during Trump’s first term was driven by bigotry and Islamophobia, causing severe harm to countless families. Now, with a new executive order, Trump is laying the groundwork to reinstate this discriminatory policy. That is why we are reintroducing the NO BAN Act — to ensure no president can ever ban people from entering the U.S. based solely on their religion.” 

Senator Chris Coons also criticised the return of the policy, saying: “Trump’s first Muslim Ban was unjust, un-American, and damaged our nation’s global reputation. Now, as he embarks on a second term, he is once again using fear and prejudice to shape immigration policy. The NO BAN Act is more important than ever to prevent such discriminatory actions and uphold religious freedom.”

Key provisions of the NO BAN Act

The NO BAN Act aims to prevent any future religious-based travel bans by:

• Prohibiting discrimination based on religion in all immigration and nationality laws.
• Requiring credible justification for any travel restrictions and ensuring they are narrowly tailored to address legitimate security concerns.
• Mandating congressional notification within 48 hours of any imposed travel restrictions, along with regular updates.

Alongside the NO BAN Act, Rep Pramila Jayapal (WA-07) and Senator Alex Padilla (CA) have reintroduced the Access to Counsel Act, which ensures that US citizens, green card holders, and legal visa holders detained by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) for more than an hour have the right to consult an attorney or family member. 

This measure was proposed in response to the 2017 Muslim Ban, when thousands of travelers were detained at US airports, often denied access to legal assistance. 

Several lawmakers and advocacy groups have spoken out against Trump’s efforts to reinstate the travel ban.

Rep Jerrold Nadler (NY-12): “No president should be allowed to use fear and prejudice to enact religious discrimination. The NO BAN Act ensures that our immigration policies reflect American values, not xenophobia.”

Rep Rashida Tlaib (MI-12): “Millions of Muslims around the world suffered because of Trump’s hateful Muslim Ban. Now, he is trying to bring it back. We must stop this racist and Islamophobic policy once and for all.”

Rep Ilhan Omar (MN-05): “As someone from a previously banned country, I know the devastating impact this has on families. The NO BAN Act will prevent presidents from abusing their power to target marginalised communities.”

Rep André Carson (IN-07): “Trump’s Muslim Ban fuelled Islamophobia and hate crimes in the US. This new attempt at reviving the ban will only deepen divisions and harm our communities.”

Numerous civil rights and immigrant advocacy organisations, including the ACLU, Muslim Advocates, National Immigration Law Centre, and MPower Change, have endorsed the NO BAN Act.

Jamal Abdi, President of the National Iranian American Council Action, said: “Reinstating the Muslim Ban will separate thousands of American families and weaken our economy. The scars from the first ban haven’t healed, and Congress must act now to prevent this injustice from happening again.”

Naureen Shah, ACLU Equality Division Deputy Director, added: “We saw the chaos and cruelty of Trump’s first Muslim Ban. We cannot allow history to repeat itself. The NO BAN Act is a critical safeguard against discriminatory immigration policies.”

The reintroduction of the NO BAN Act marks a significant step in the fight against religious discrimination in US immigration policy. As Trump moves to reinstate and expand his travel bans, Democrats in Congress are pushing back to ensure that no future president can impose such bans based on religion or nationality. 

The bill now awaits debate and a vote in Congress, where Democrats hope to secure bipartisan support to prevent the return of Trump’s controversial travel ban.