and the Nazi roundup of Jews during WWII.
A Federal Appeals Court ruling upholding a court mandated stop to President Trump’s Muslim ban is being hailed by Asian American civil rights and legal groups.
“Today the majority of judges for the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals saw through the hollow national security claims of this administration and struck a blow to those who seek to criminalize and demonize individuals on the basis of religion, ethnicity, and national origin,” said Asian Americans Advancing Justice, a nationwide coalition of five legal groups. “We commend the court for not repeating the shameful moments in history that led to the Chinese Exclusion Act in 1882 and saw more than nearly 120,000 Japanese Americans incarcerated during World War II.”
The ruling from the Fourth District Court is likely to be appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court. The Ninth District Court of Appeals is also deciding on a case against the ban. No appeal to the Supreme Court is likely until after a ruling from the Ninth District Court.
“Cosmetic changes to the President’s original “Muslim Ban” did not beguile the 13 judges of the 4th Circuit,” said Suman Raghunathan, Executive Director of South Asian Americans Leading Together (SAALT). “The court stated that the evidence “creates a compelling case that [the President’s second travel ban’s] primary purpose is religious” and that the President’s anti-Muslim campaign rhetoric “provides direct, specific evidence” of “President Trump’s desire to exclude Muslims from the United States.”
The White House says its efforts to implement the ban will not be slowed.
“These clearly are very dangerous times, and we need every available tool at our disposal to prevent terrorists from entering the United States and committing acts of bloodshed and violence,” said White House spokesman Michael Short to CNN. “We are confident the President’s executive order to protect the country is fully lawful and ultimately will be upheld by the Judiciary.”
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