SEIU’s Sáenz: The Supreme Court’s decision in the third Muslim ban disrespects our traditions, values, and laws

WASHINGTON, D.C.––In response to the Supreme Court's Muslim ban decision that allows our government to prevent travel to the U.S. from five Muslim majority countries, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Syria and Yemen, SEIU International Executive Vice President and iAmerica Action President Rocio Sáenz issued the following statement:

“Today’s decision allows President Trump to continue a policy that strikes at the core of our American values and discriminates against immigrants and our communities.  The Muslim ban disrespects our country’s tradition of religious freedom and replaces it with bias, bigotry and anti-immigrant stereotypes. This new attack on our Muslim brothers and sisters is a continuation of the same discriminatory racist ban we first saw one week after President Trump’s inauguration. It enshrines the ugly, discriminatory rhetoric of President Trump’s campaign trail.

“Preventing families from reuniting, whether at our southern border or in our airports, is not who we are. The Muslim ban will not actually make us more safe but will instead impact people who contribute so much to our community safety, strength, and overall well-being.

"The American people––white, black and brown––see through these fear-mongering tactics and stand with all communities, as they stood with Muslims when President Trump implemented his first Muslim ban in January of 2017. Let’s be clear, the Muslim Ban is not a law but a decision by President Trump that can be changed when we elect leaders who stand with our American values and working people. This case is not over. It is now up to the lower courts to decide if the case can go forward in light of the Supreme Court’s decision.

"SEIU stands united against discrimination and racism and will continue to fight these policies and hold the administration accountable for as long as it takes.  We will use our collective power at the ballot box to fight back against extremists who use race and religion as a "divide and conquer" strategy to keep working people from coming together.”