December 23, 2017 Joint Press Statement of Iranian-American Organizations

derekPress Release

Washington, D.C. (December 23, 2017) – A coalition of Iranian American organizations, including Iranian American Bar Association (IABA), Pars Equality Center, and the Public Affairs Alliance of Iranian Americans (PAAIA), released the following joint statement regarding the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruling on Friday that the third version of President Trump’s travel ban should be partially blocked:

“As Iranian American civil rights, advocacy, and legal organizations, we welcome the decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit that the controversial travel ban policy exceed the president’s authority under federal law.

“While the court stayed its position pending review by the Supreme Court, which earlier this month temporarily ruled to allow the travel ban to go into full effect, we remain hopeful that the judicial system will ultimately rule against this discriminatory policy.”

The three organizations along with over 25 individual plaintiffs are also challenging President Trump’s latest iteration of the travel and refugee bans in Federal court in Washington D.C. The lawsuit argues that the policy is targeting Iranian Americans and is the first legal challenge to President Trump’s October 24th Executive Order banning refugees from Iran and 10 other African and Middle Eastern countries.

Pars Equality Center, IABA, and PAAIA are committed to protecting the civil liberties of Iranian Americans and will continue to fight the travel ban in court and advocate for its ultimate rejection in the halls of Congress.

The brief and declarations, along with other information on the Iranian American coalition federal lawsuit can be found at www.endthetravelban.com.

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