Ahead of Historic Congressional Muslim Ban Hearing, Leading Businesses Back NO BAN Act

WASHINGTON, DC — Today, just before a historic congressional hearing on the Muslim ban, more than a dozen leading companies announced their support for the NO BAN Act (S. 1123/H.R. 2214), a bill introduced by Sen. Chris Coons (D-DE) and Rep. Judy Chu (D-CA) that would immediately end the Muslim Ban and establish safeguards to prevent future presidents from enacting a similar religious ban again. In a letter sent on Sunday to Reps. Coons and Chu, the corporations noted that the Muslim Ban harms their ability to do business across national borders and attract top global talent:

“The travel limitations set by the travel ban make it challenging for U.S. workers to travel for work, leading to missed opportunities for employees to develop new skills and contribute to company growth,” stated the letter. “Additionally, U.S. companies are less likely to attract global talent when those seeking work know they will have a harder time traveling internationally while working for an American company.”

Signers of the letter include: Postmates, Airbnb, Pinterest, Spotify, Eventbrite, Slack, Upwork, Remedy, Thumbtack, Okta, Lyft, Uber and Twitter.

Muslim Advocates has played a leading role in developing the NO BAN Act and is also co-counsel on Emami v. Nielsen, a major and ongoing class action lawsuit challenging the government’s waiver process for the ban. The national civil rights organization expressed gratitude to the corporations for supporting the bill:

“The Muslim Ban harms thousands of separated families across the nation and makes a mockery of our founding ideals of freedom of religion and equal treatment under the law,” said Madihha Ahussain, Muslim Advocates’ special counsel for anti-Muslim Bigotry. “We are so grateful that these corporations are bravely standing up for the rights and dignity of Muslims by supporting the NO BAN Act.”

“Airbnb’s purpose is to create a world where anyone can belong anywhere, which is why we support the NO BAN Act and thank Senator Coons and Congresswoman Chu for their continued support on policies that open doors and build bridges between cultures around the world,” stated Chris Lehane, Senior Vice President of Global Policy and Communications at Airbnb.

“As a platform that connects people from all walks of life, to the tastes, scents and goods that power our communities, the Muslim Ban goes against America’s core values and risks undermining neighborhood prosperity. That is why it is crucial for Congress to step in and right this wrong. And that is why our colleagues in any tech sector that taps into the vibrancy of communities around them to grow their marketplaces, must also stand on the right side of history,” said Vikrum Aiyer, Vice President of Global Public Policy & Strategy Communications at Postmates. “Thanks to the leadership of Sen. Coons and Rep. Chu, this legislation would restore our country’s commitment to our highest ideals and protect a vital source of economic dynamism by dismantling and degrading policies of hate.”

The letter precedes a historic hearing on Tuesday about the Muslim Ban held jointly by the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations and the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration and Citizenship. This will be the first congressional hearing on the ban and will feature testimony from Muslim Advocates Executive Director Farhana Khera and Muslim Advocates client Ismail Alghazali, a victim of the ban, among others. 

Additional Resources:

• NO BAN Act corporate support letter to Sen. Coons and Rep. Chu
• Nearly 400 groups call on Congress to pass the NO BAN Act
• Muslim Advocates’ Farhana Khera to Testify at Historic Muslim Ban Hearing

Muslim Advocates is a national civil rights organization working in the courts, in the halls of power and in communities to halt bigotry in its tracks. We ensure that American Muslims have a seat at the table with expert representation so that all Americans may live free from hate and discrimination. 

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