MUSLIM & CIVIL RIGHTS GROUPS CONDEMN TRUMP’S CALL FOR MORE ISLAMOPHOBIC POLICIES IN WAKE OF NYC TRAGEDY

(SAN FRANCISCO, CA and NEW YORK, NY, 11/3/2017) — In the wake of the attack on the people of New York City this week, President Trump released a variety of xenophobic proposals aimed at hurting immigrant and Muslim communities. Threatening to “end chain migration,” terminating the long-standing diversity lottery program, abandoning due process and civil liberties, the President is attempting to exploit Tuesday’s attacks to advance an aggressively anti-Muslim and anti-immigrant agenda long championed by his administration.

In response, Christina Sinha from Asian Americans Advancing Justice, Albert Fox Cahn from the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), and Avideh Moussavian from the National Immigration Law Center (NILC) released the following statements:

Christina Sinha, Staff Attorney at Asian Americans Advancing Justice:

“We condemn the recent attack in New York City and offer our deepest condolences to the victims and families impacted by this horrible act of hate. However, we cannot allow President Trump to use this terrible tragedy as an excuse to further scapegoat Muslims and intensify his xenophobic, anti-Muslim policy agenda.”

Albert Fox Cahn, CAIR Representative:

“CAIR condemns the horrific and cowardly attack in Manhattan and offers sincere condolences to the loved ones of those killed and injured. Rather than trying to bring our country together, this President is seeking to rip apart our constitution, attacking our fundamental rights. We’ve never sent suspects arrested on U.S. soil to Guantanamo Bay, not even in the darkest days after 9/11.”

Avideh Moussavian, Senior Policy Attorney at the National Immigration Law Center:

“Strong leaders recognize that moments of tragedy call for unity, not sowing harmful divisions. After this week’s tragic events in New York, President Trump once again failed to show the leadership we need in these moments and instead wants to exploit this devastating attack to promote his laundry list of anti-Muslim policies to turn our nation into a country where the American dream is sold to the highest bidder. These proposals would betray our fundamental values of fairness and due process and threaten to turn our immigration laws into a race and class-based system. Our lawmakers on both sides of the aisle should remember those lessons and reject Trump’s call to divide and discriminate.”

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Asian Americans Advancing Justice is a national affiliation of five leading organizations advocating for the civil and human rights of Asian Americans and other underserved communities to promote a fair and equitable society for all. The affiliation's members are: Advancing Justice - Asian Law Caucus (San Francisco), Advancing Justice - AAJC (Washington, D.C.), Advancing Justice - Los Angeles, Advancing Justice - Atlanta, and Advancing Justice - Chicago.

CAIR is America's largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.

The National Immigration Law Center is exclusively dedicated to defending and advancing the rights and opportunities of low-income immigrants and their families. Our mission is grounded in the belief that every American—and aspiring American—should have the opportunity to fulfill their full potential regardless of where they were born or how much money they have. Using our deep expertise in a wide range of issues that affect low-income immigrants’ lives, we work with communities in courtrooms and legislatures to help advance policies that create a more just and equitable society for everyone.

The #NoMuslimBanEver campaign is organized by a coalition of national and local civil rights and Muslim advocacy groups who are leading efforts around the country to fight against President Trump’s latest unconstitutional Muslim Ban, as well as other discriminatory immigration policies that criminalize and negatively impact American Muslim communities and immigrants across the country.

CAIR is America's largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.

La misión de CAIR es proteger las libertades civiles, capacitar a los musulmanes estadounidenses, y construir coaliciones que promuevan la justicia y la comprensión mutua.

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