Catholic Lobby Celebrates Passage of NO BAN Act

For Immediate Release: April 22, 2021
Contact: Colleen Ross, cross@networklobby.org, 202-601-7877

NETWORK Lobby Celebrates Passage of NO BAN Act
Mary J. Novak: “The United States must never return to these discriminatory and immoral policies.”

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today in a 218-208 vote, the House passed the NO BAN Act, bringing our country closer to living up to the call to welcome immigrants.

The previous presidential administration cruelly excluded immigrants, travelers, and asylum seekers from Muslim-majority countries. These discriminatory policies were antithetical to our shared values.

NETWORK celebrates the passage of the NO BAN Act, which ensures that religion will no longer be used to strip our immigrant family of dignity.

Mary J. Novak, Executive Director of NETWORK Lobby for Catholic Social Justice said:

“I applaud the House for passing the NO BAN Act to uphold the sacred right to immigrate in our country’s laws. As a Catholic, my faith calls me to love, respect, and welcome immigrants, and declare that immigrants are made in the image and likeness of God. The NO BAN Act affirms and recognizes the inherent dignity of immigrants, refugees, and asylum seekers, especially Black and Brown immigrants persecuted by the previous Administration.

“Over the past five years, we experienced xenophobic and racist attempts to reshape the U.S. immigration system. The United States must never return to these discriminatory and immoral policies.

“We thank the House for passing this bill and ask the Senate now to introduce it and take it up so that it can become the law of the land“

Ronnate Asirwatham, Government Relations Director for NETWORK Lobby for Catholic Social Justice said:

“President Biden’s rescission of the travel ban on Muslim-majority and African countries on his first day in office was a necessary first step in undoing its painful legacy. Today the House took additional steps, recognizing that the NO BAN Act’s measures to prohibit discrimination on the basis of religion are necessary to protect Black and brown immigrants from similar policies.

“Anti-Muslim and nationalistic policies kept family members separated from one another for months and years. Anti-Muslim and nationalistic rhetoric led to increased hate crimes targeting these communities. Passing and signing the NO BAN Act into law is vital to prevent presidents from abusing their authority and betraying our country’s values in the future.”

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NETWORK Lobby for Catholic Social Justice – advocates for justice inspired by Catholic Sisters – educates, organizes, and lobbies for economic and social transformation. They have a nearly 50-year track record of lobbying for critical federal programs that support those at the margins and prioritize the common good. www.networklobby.org