#TakeAction – March 11, 2020

Happy Wednesday! The Primary Election is over so let’s move forward! Here is how you can #TakeAction today, March 11th:

🔶 Call and thank Congresswoman Schrier for cosponsoring the NO BAN Act, H.R.2214. Ask her to vote “no” for any amendments and pass this important legislation “as is.”
🔶Call Congresswoman Schrier, ask her to cosponsor and vote for the Access to Counsel Act, H.R.5581.

1. TakeAction – Pass the “NO BAN” Act with NO Amendments

Background:The NO BAN Act finally ends President Trump’s “temporary 90-day ban” on travel from many Muslim countries to the United States – only 621+ days after it started! The No Ban Act would repeal the Muslim, refugee, and asylum bans and would amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to prohibit discrimination based on religion. Additionally, it would limit the broad executive authority that allowed the refugee and asylum bans by implementing stricter implementation requirements and greater congressional oversight. Trump’s executive order has separated families and caused untold suffering, but Republicans are trying to extend the policy by attaching amendments that allow the bans to continue under other pretexts, such as allowing bans for “infectious disease”. We can screen and quarantine arriving visitors as needed as a response to COVID-19; there is no reason to continue complete travel bans. Tell Congresswoman Schrier to vote to pass the NO BAN Act “as is” to reunite families, protect asylees, and allow non-immigrant visas without discrimination based on religion.

Source:ACLU: https://www.aclu.org/press-releases/aclu-statement-no-ban-act

2. TakeAction – Support the Access to Counsel Act, H.R.5581

This legislation ensures those detained while entering the United States are guaranteed access to legal counsel. This bill is sponsored by Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal (WA7), has 50 cosponsors, but Congresswoman Schrier is not yet a cosponsor.Background:During the chaos at the airports when the Muslim ban was enacted, lawyers, activists, and elected officials attempted to assist those arriving with valid visas who were detained. CPB prevented detainees from speaking with attorneys, officials, family members, even after a court-ordered that attorneys be given access. A similar situation occurred in January when Iranians, both with immigrant visas and US citizens, returning from a concert in Canada were detained or turned away at the Blaine border crossing.

Source:
House Judiciary Committee: https://judiciary.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2808
Amnesty International: https://www.amnestyusa.org/our-work/government-relations/advocacy/statement-for-the-record-on-the-muslim-ban-markup-2-12-2020/