Nadler, Lofgren Statement on Trump Administration's Expanded Muslim Ban

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, the Trump Administration announced it is adding Burma, Eritrea, Kyrgyzstan, Nigeria, Tanzania, and Sudan to the already extensive list of countries subject to the Muslim ban. House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) and Immigration and Citizenship Subcommittee Chair Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) released the following statement:

"With today's announcement, the President is once again rewriting our nation's immigration laws by stretching the bounds of section 212(f) of the Immigration and Nationality Act beyond its limits.

"Before January 2017, presidents of both parties utilized section 212(f) in the manner in which it was intended—to protect the national interest by excluding small, well-defined groups of individuals from entering the country. However, this president has repeatedly invoked section 212(f) to broadly exclude large classes of people, without adequate justification, and in some cases, to implement sweeping changes that contradict existing law. This Administration's flagrant disregard for historical precedent, the separation of powers, and Congress's lawmaking authority is dangerous for our democracy and for the rule of law.

"In less than two weeks, the Judiciary Committee will markup H.R. 2214, the National Origin-Based Antidiscrimination for Nonimmigrants (NO BAN) Act. This vital legislation would repeal the Muslim ban, strengthen provisions of the Immigration and Nationality Act by prohibiting discrimination based on religion, and ensure that executive authority to prohibit the entry of noncitizens can no longer be abused in this manner."

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