Women Watch Afrika Condemns the Expansion of the Xenophobic, Racist, Muslim Travel Ban (And Call to Action!) On January 31, 2020, the administration expanded its discriminatory “Muslim” Travel Ban, introducing travel restrictions to six additional countries — Nigeria, Sudan, Tanzania, Eritrea, Myanmar, and Kyrgyzstan. This is a third version of the discriminatory travel ban and maintains the restrictions currently in place for Libya, Iran, Syria, Somalia, Yemen, Venezuela, and North Korea. The new restrictions take effect on February 22, 2020. Under this new version, the ban effectively puts a stop to the admissions of immigrants from Africa’s most populous nation, Nigeria; which it is worth noting--Nigerian citizens have not been allowed to apply for visas since 2018. This new ban effectively makes that visa block permanent. Under this expanded travel ban, people from Eritrea, Myanmar, Kyrgyzstan, and Nigeria are no longer eligible for immigrant visas to move to the United States, while people from Sudan and Tanzania are now prohibited from being a part of the diversity visa lottery. The proclamation alleges that individuals from these six countries will still be eligible for short-term business and tourist visas, and states that petitioners from these countries could be eligible for waiver and exemptions, but as we have seen from the previous version of this 'travel' ban, such waivers and exemptions have not been a reality for individuals on the list of the previous ban. The proclamation also states that this ban will not apply to individuals who already have approved visas nor to Permanent Residents. In 2018, Women Watch Afrika expressed its disappointment that the SCOTUS upheld the extremely xenophobic and discriminatory travel ban. It is 2020 now, and WWA’s position has not changed. With this new expansion, it is clear that the administration is expanding its attack on immigrants, on Muslim immigrants, and even more specifically on African immigrants: out of the 13 countries affected by the ban: the majority is from Africa (Nigeria, Sudan, Somalia, Eritrea, Libya, and Tanzania). This current administration’s attack on Black immigrants is not surprising as Trump referred to African nations as “sh*thole” countries. However, the blatant manner in which the administration is carrying out it’s racist and xenophobic attacks on Africans, Muslims, and Immigrants through Executive Orders is shocking and disheartening. The disproportionate treatment of immigrants of color as related to the manner in which immigrants from areas the administration considers to be non-sh*thole countries are treated, is a human rights violation. Immigrants are human beings and entitled to fair and equal treatment. Notice of Action: Women Watch Afrika and other civic organizations had a Press Conference on Monday February 3, 2019 at 12 noon in front of the State Capitol. Joining our voices in speaking out against the unjust treatment of individuals targeted by this xenophobic, racist, Muslim, African travel ban. CALL TO ACTION: We urge you to reach out to your Member of Congress to speak out against this expanded xenophobic, racist, African, Muslim, travel ban. The No Ban Act would repeal all versions of this anti-Muslim, anti-African, anti-Immigrant, anti-refugee, and anti-asylum travel ban; as well as curb the excessively broad Executive Order authority as it applies to refugee and asylum concerns. Women Watch Afrika will continue to speak out against Injustice. We are not free, unless all of us are free. #HumanRights #NoBan #NoWarOnPeople #NoSeparationofFamilies #FamiliesBelongTogether #NoWall #ImmigrantRights Peace and Much Respect, Glory Kilanko Founder and Executive Director Women Watch Afrika, Inc. P. O. Box 208 Avondale Estates, GA 30002 Tel:(404)759-6419 Email:gloryk_99@yahoo.com Website: www.womenwatchafrika.org Donate now Follow us on Social Media: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WomenWatchAfrika Twitter: https://twitter.com/WomenWatchAfri
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