“President Trump’s latest attempt at a ‘Muslim ban’, like all the others, undermines fundamental American and Jewish values with its explicit bigotry and xenophobia. These immoral restrictions, which make no actual contribution to protecting our country, send an unmistakable message to Muslims and immigrants in the United States and around the world: ‘You are not welcome here.’ These fearmongering measures betray America’s immigrant history, one of the great sources of our nation’s strength and prosperity.

An immigrant heritage is deeply rooted in the American Jewish experience. We know the dangers of dividing communities and scapegoating immigrants. And we will not stand by as people are singled out and discriminated against by the government. We will continue to join in the legal fight and act in solidarity with our Muslim and immigrant allies against these hateful, divisive policies, until all forms of the ‘Muslim Ban’ are struck down once and for all.”

Bend the Arc Jewish Action’s sister organization, Bend the Arc: A Jewish Partnership for Justice, joined “friend of the court” briefs opposing Trump’s revised Muslim and refugee ban on the grounds that it is an unambiguous and unconstitutional attempt to single out members of a religious group for discrimination based solely upon their religion, in cases before The Supreme Court and the Fourth Circuit and Ninth Circuit Courts of Appeals. The amicus briefs, which describe the executive order as a “punishing ban on Muslim immigrants and visitors,” were authored by Americans United for Separation of Church and State and were also joined by the Southern Poverty Law Center, The Riverside Church in the City of New York, and several clergy members.  The briefs argue that the ‘Muslim Ban 2.0,’ issued by President Trump following a series of court rulings against the original ban, violates the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment to the Constitution, which prevents the government not only from designating a state religion, but also from singling out one religion for condemnation or disfavor.

Share this story