Clark Applauds Passage of the NO BAN Act to Prohibit Religious-Based Discrimination

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Assistant Speaker Katherine Clark (MA-5) voted in support of the National Origin-Based Antidiscrimination for Nonimmigrants (NO BAN) Act. This bill, led by Rep. Judy Chu (CA-27), strengthens the Immigration and Nationality Act to prohibit discrimination on the basis of religion and restores the separation of powers by limiting executive authority to issue future travel bans. The vote passed by a 218-208 margin.

'We are a nation that is renewed and enhanced by immigrants, and a country committed to religious freedom. In 2017, when former President Trump issued the 'Muslim ban,' it was a betrayal of our core values. Never again can we allow prejudice to dictate our immigration policy,' said Assistant Speaker Katherine Clark. 'When the House of Representatives passed the NO BAN Act today, we took another important step toward fixing our broken immigration system and ensuring justice guides our way forward.'

'It is vital that Congress takes up the NO BAN Act this week and seriously considers it for passage,' said Eva Millona, President and CEO of the MIRA Coalition. 'Too many families and migrants around the world have suffered for too long and been unfairly discriminated against as a result of the last administration's ineffective and prejudiced policies. MIRA strongly supports the Act and hopes that Congress will move swiftly on it. We also extend our gratitude to Assistant Speaker Clark, Representative Chu, Representative McGovern, and others for their strong leadership and inspired effort on behalf of refugees and their communities.'

In January, President Joe Biden used Executive Action to rescind the Muslim Ban and its related proclamations and resumed processing visas from countries previously excluded from legal immigration to the United States

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