New York, NY — Today, Immigration Equality's Executive Director Aaron C. Morris issued the following statement lauding U.S. District Judge Robart's decision halting enforcement of the executive order banning Muslims and refugees:
"Judge Robart's decision to issue a temporary restraining order was the right one. The President's sweeping, poorly constructed, and unconstitutional directive caused wide scale chaos at the border. Many immigrants were barred from boarding their flights, some were being taken off of planes, and many were unlawfully detained at America's airports. In the week since the President issued the Muslim and Refugee ban order, we have heard from hundreds of anxious LGBTQ and HIV-positive individuals asking if they would be allowed to return home.
"Today, our community can breathe a bit easier knowing that judges across the country have agreed that there is a strong chance that they will find that the order is unlawful or unconstitutional. Allowing it to stay in place while it is reviewed would have caused irreparable harm to hundreds of thousands of people, including thousands of LGBTQ and HIV-positive people from seeking safety in the United States.
"While it is not surprising that President Trump has already attacked the courts for their decisions, doing so is not just disrespectful - it is dangerous for our Democracy. An independent judiciary is a vital and necessary component of any free nation. Americans must support and protect our courts."
Immigration Equality is the nation's leading LGBTQ immigrant rights organization. We represent and advocate for people from around the world fleeing violence, abuse, and persecution because of their sexual orientation, gender identity, or HIV status. Our legal team has won asylum for hundreds of LGBTQ and HIV-positive immigrants while maintaining a 99% success rate.
