Washington, DC – The following is a statement from Sirine Shebaya, Senior Staff Attorney for Muslim Advocates, on President Donald Trump’s latest executive order effectively barring refugees from many predominantly Muslim countries for 90 days:

“It is no accident or coincidence that almost all of the banned nationalities are predominantly Muslim. After multiple defeats in the courts, this is yet another gasping and inhumane attempt at a Muslim ban.

Refugees, who are often fleeing war, bloodshed, and famine, are merely seeking safety and protection.  Those refugees who receive approval to resettle in the United States already undergo years of background screenings and security checks.   Despite this all, the Trump administration continues to advance refugee resettlement policies that are bigoted and misguided and that do nothing to advance of our country’s national security.

This latest executive order makes even clearer that President Trump’s ultimate objective is to block Muslims from entering this country in every way he can.  His actions are un-American and morally unjustifiable.”

Muslim Advocates is a national legal advocacy and educational organization that works on the frontlines of civil rights to guarantee freedom and justice for Americans of all faiths.

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