March 9, 2017

San Francisco, CA – The Asian American Bar Association of the Greater Bay Area denounces the executive order released on March 6, 2017.  The revised Executive Order is premised on the misguided assumption that barring Muslims and refugees from entering the United States will increase national security. Although revised, this executive order has maintained the core unlawful elements of the earlier executive order that discriminate based on nationality and religion.  The original and now revised executive order will not enhance our national security, but instead will fuel anti-immigrant and anti-Muslim sentiments at home and fuel anti-American sentiments abroad.

The revised order will take effect on March 16, 2017.  Like the earlier order, the revised order bans refugees from entering the United States for a 120-day period and continues to impact individuals from six predominantly Muslim countries (Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen).  Entry of nationals of these six countries is suspended for 90 days, with some exceptions. 

The ban will not apply to certain individuals, such as lawful permanent residents and dual nationals who travel on their passports from non-designated countries. Certain visa holders and status holders will not be affected and waivers will be granted on a case-by-case basis.

 “The revised Executive Order, like the original one, is an attempt to effectuate racism and discrimination under the guise of ‘national security’ – a justification which bears a disturbing resemblance to the ‘military necessity’ used to justify the incarceration of Japanese Americans,” said AABA President Hung Chang.  “The revised order is yet another inhumane, unlawful attempt to discriminate against Muslims and immigrants, and it strikes against the core values of this country.”  

AABA remains committed to standing up against discrimination and injustice. We applaud our members who are on the front lines advising refugees and immigrants affected by the Executive Order.