SAN FRANCISCO (Diya TV) — The American Civil Liberties Union of Northern California and the group’s affiliates throughout the state, as well as the ACLU’s National Immigrants’ Rights Project, have filed a lawsuit against, among other people and government agencies, President Donald Trump for “establishing and enforcing an unconstitutional and discriminatory Muslim ban.” The complaint, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, argues the executive orders President Trump signed on Jan. 27 constitutes an unlawful attempt to discriminate against Muslims, which is strictly prohibited under the first amendment of the U.S. Constitution.
The suit additionally challenges a Jan. 27 letter from the Department of State that summarily and provisionally revoked most valid nonimmigrant and immigrant visas of nationals of seven Muslim-majority nations. Hadil Al-Mowafak, one of the named plaintiffs in the suit, is a freshman at Stanford University, attending school courtesy of an F-1 student visa. She is now unable to travel to Yemen to visit her husband and family as a result of the executive order. Wasim Ghaleb, also a named plaintiff in the suit, studies at Grossmont College in San Diego. He travelled to Saudi Arabia to visit family last month, intending to return to the U.S. in time for his spring semester. When he returned, also courtesy of his F-1 visa, he was denied entry, and has since been barred from returning.
These are just two examples of what Keker and Van Nest partner Adam Lauridsen said is proof Muslims are being targeted because of their religion.
“The executive order is contrary to the values of our nation,” Lauridsen said during an exclusive interview with Diya TV. “We believe in the rich diversity of our community and want to do what we can to support that diversity and defend it. “We joined with the ACLU to protect the people that are targeted by what we believe is a Muslim ban and an illegal action by the government.”
When asked about their odds of succeeding knowing President Trump has a willing Congress and potential majority in the Supreme Court forthcoming, Lauridsen said this team of lawyers “are strong, deep believers in the rule of law [and] believe that our courts are here to protect us with the rule of law.”
In addition, Lauridsen says this complaint differs from others filed around the nation in that it “not only specifically targets the executive order, but the secret letter that came to light earlier this week revoking valid visas from non-immigrants and immigrants.”
Also named as a plaintiff in the complaint is the Jewish Family & Community Services East Bay, an organization with a storied history of providing legal and other services to refugees and immigrants.
You can read the complaint in its entirety here.
Ravi Kapur contributed to this report.
