Information You Need to Know About Trump’s ‘Muslim Ban’

by | Jan 30, 2017 | Blog

Information You Need to Know About Trump’s ‘Muslim Ban’

Dear community members and friends.

Since President Donald Trump signed Friday’s executive order banning non-citizens from seven Muslim-majority countries from traveling to the U.S., dozens of passengers arriving with non-immigrant visas as well as green cards have been detained at airports across the country, and in many cases sent back on flights after questioning. Hundreds of others have been barred from boarding flights to the U.S.

Like you, we are appalled at these attempts to erode our American values by targeting individuals based on race, religion, and national origin.

A complete analysis of this executive order will take time, but we continue to hear from many of you, worried about what this means for your families and friends. Accordingly, we wanted to reach out and offer some preliminary guidance. We will send out more details as they become clear.

Stay Vigilant and Informed

  • Although a federal judge has issued an emergency stay blocking the removal of all detained individuals with a valid visa or approved refugee application, enforcement has been inconsistent and multiple reports confirm that Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) officers at some airports are not fully complying with the order.
  • If you are at an airport and have been detained, call CAIR-OK as soon as possible (405-430-9877). DO NOT sign any forms, including the I-407 to abandon your Lawful Permanent Resident Status! If you are a green card holder you may ask to see an immigration judge or consult an immigration attorney before signing anything.

What you need to know right now:

  • Generally, non-citizens, including green card holders (lawful permanent residents), from Iraq, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen will be restricted from entering the U.S. for at least 90 days. Non-citizens from these countries who are presently in the U.S. should consult with an immigration attorney prior to any international travel
    • If you are a green card or visa holder who plans to travel to the U.S., consult an experienced immigration attorney before your trip.
  • If you or your family member has been detained at an airport or has been denied access to the U.S. and forced to return to your country of origin, contact CAIR-OK as soon as possible!

What you should do to protect yourself:

  • If you are non-citizen, even green card holders (lawful permanent residents), from one of the seven countries named above, and you are inside the U.S., please plan to delay all international travel for at least 90 days
  • If you are a non-citizen from one of the seven countries named above, and you are outside of the U.S., you may face issues at the airport. Please keep looking for updates in the coming days to assess your travel options. If you are facing an emergency at the airport or are coming home in the coming days, please have our numbers on hand (405.415.6851 or 405.430.9877)
  • Whether you are a citizen or not, do not permit law enforcement to enter your home without a warrant. Even if they have a warrant, you should not speak to them without consulting with an attorney

What you can do to push back against this:

  • Call your members of Congress and the U.S. Senate at 202.224.3121 to ask them to speak out against anti-Muslim and anti-immigrant bigotry and oppose these Executive Orders
  • Call Oklahoma Senators James Lankford (202.224.5754) and James Inhofe (202.224.4721) to ask them to speak out against the appointment of Senator Jeff Sessions as Attorney General
  • Sign a letter of support for S.B. 31, which is critical legislation needed to protect against the creation of a Muslim registry: http://bit.ly/civilrightsbills
  • Join us for upcoming civic engagement opportunities, including: