April 21, 2021

Rep. Lawson Votes to Outlaw Discriminatory Religious Travel Bans, Protect Due Process Rights at Ports of Entry

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Rep. Al Lawson (FL-05) voted to pass H.R. 1333, the NO BAN Act, and H.R. 1573, the Access to Counsel Act of 2021.  Together, this landmark legislation would prevent future presidents from issuing travel bans that discriminate based on religion while protecting certain due process protections for individuals detained while attempting to lawfully enter the country at ports of entry.

“Our nation was intended to be a safe haven for religious liberty, welcoming immigrants from all nations and faiths,” Rep. Lawson said. “Discriminating on the basis of religion is fundamentally un-American and violates our founding promise. The Muslim Ban – and the chaos at our ports of entry that followed – was a stain on our nation. These two bills are necessary to restore the separation of powers, prevent future executive overreach and safeguard due process protections. I am proud to support this legislation and ensure the immigrants, students, workers and visitors of all faiths who come to our nation are met with basic human decency and due process.”

In 2017, President Donald Trump used executive authority to issue three versions of his Muslim Ban, barring foreign nationals from several Muslim majority countries from entering the United States.  In doing so, many Muslim-American citizens and other individuals with legal status were detained indefinitely at ports of entry without the ability to consult with family or an attorney.  

The NO BAN Act strengthens immigration law by explicitly prohibiting discrimination based on religion.  The Access to Counsel Act ensures that those seeking to lawfully enter the country at ports of entry have the right to communicate with legal counsel, family members and others who can assist with verifying the legal status of their travel.