Ryan Costello, Policy Director of NIAC Action, issued the following statement after the passage of legislation to repeal the Muslim ban through the House Judiciary Committee:
Back to top“After more than three years of the Muslim ban, and more than 30,000 Iranians barred from securing a visa, Congress has now taken a firm step toward unraveling an outrageous order that is based solely on bigotry.
“The House Judiciary Committee, Chairman Nadler, Rep. Lofgren, and Rep. Judy Chu deserve tremendous credit for moving this vital bill that would end the ban and block future discriminatory orders. So too do the many Iranian Americans and other allied groups in the No Muslim Ban Ever campaign who worked so hard to make the bill’s passage possible. The Iranian-American community looks forward to the House passing the NO BAN Act and sending it on to the Senate, where we hope the majority will bring it up for a vote.
“Unfortunately, Republicans in Congress have gone from shock and dismissiveness at then candidate-Trump’s Muslim ban proposal, to concern regarding the ban’s chaotic implementation under President Trump, to support and defense of the discriminatory order in the halls of Congress. Republicans on the Judiciary Committee should be ashamed of their gaslighting in the committee today in defense of the Muslim ban. Their efforts to undermine our democratic values and defend discrimination will not be forgotten by the Iranian-American community or the American people.”