Muslim Americans' lawsuit claims Trump exclusion order is unconstitutional

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Lawyers like these with Rep. Judy Chu at LAX volunteered to help families of those impacted by
President Donald Trump's executive order placing restrictions Muslim immigrants and refugees.

A LAWSUIT was filed challenging the constitutionality of Donald Trump's Executive Order that calls for a temporary ban on the Muslim immigrants or refugees

The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) filed a federal lawsuit on behalf of more than 20 people challenging President Donald Trump's immigration ban on seven Muslim-majority countries as a First Amendment violation.

The Muslim civil rights advocates is calling Trump's Executive Order the Muslim Exclusion Order, reminiscent of the Chinese Exclusion Act.

The lawsuit charges that Trump's executive order singles out one religion, which could lead to the expulsion of all Muslims living in the United States when their legal status expires.

"Five judges have had the opportunity to weigh on the constitutionality of this executive order, and we're batting five for five," said Gadeir Abbas, one of the attorneys who filed the suit. "Five have found constitutional problems with this executive order so we hope to put an end to it once and for all."

A federal judge in Brooklyn issued the first injunction temporarily blocking implementation of part of the ban on Saturday. Judges in Virginia, Washington state, Texas and California followed suit. We 

The CAIR lawsuit filed in the U.S. District Court Eastern District of Virginia, seeks a much more broader action that could potentially bring the executive order to a screeching halt, if not strike it dead completely.

The 27 plaintiffs contend that the Muslim exclusion order represents “the fulfillment of President Trump’s longstanding promise and boasted intent to enact a federal policy that overtly discriminates against Muslims and officially broadcasts a message that the federal government disfavors the religion of Islam, preferring all other religions instead.”

Filed in the U.S. District Court Eastern District of Virginia, the suit alleges the executive order violates the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment, which states the government cannot endorse one religion over another.

Trump signed the executive order Friday prohibiting Muslims from Iraq, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen from entering the United States for 90 days. 

It went into effect immediately and within hours, spontaneous demonstrations involving thousands of protesters broke out in airports all over the country.

“This policy is blatant xenophobia parading as national security. Numerous studies have shown that refugees and immigrants commit fewer crimes than native-born citizens., said Rep. Judy Chu. "Yet Mr. Trump continues to rely on the false justification that the U.S. cannot risk admitting refugees, when the reality is that the U.S. already has one of the strictest refugee vetting policies in the world. 

"The refugees seeking asylum here are overwhelmingly women and parents who do not pose a threat to our country, but simply want a chance to live in peace, away from the horrors of war and refugee camps. For them, this policy is a death sentence."

Acting Attorney General  Sally Yates was removed from her post by Trump after she told her attorneys not to defend the executive order.

"My responsibility is to ensure that the position of the Department of Justice is not only legally defensible, but is informed by our best view of what the law is after consideration of all the facts," Yates said in a letter. "In addition, I am responsible for ensuring that the positions we take in court remain consistent with this institution's solemn obligation to always seek justice and stand for what is right."

California legislators vow to oppose Trump's plans vs. immiigrants & minorities

Protests against Donald Trump continues to be held in numerous California cities including San Francisco (above).

DONALD TRUMP'S presidential victory prompted demonstrations in dozens of U.S. cities, talk of California's secession from the United States and a stirring of a movement to counter the growing anti-minority and anti-immigrant acts of his supporters from the radical right.

The California Asian Pacific Islander Legislative Caucus issued a statement Nov. 17 condemning the stereotypes and outright bigotry that has been and continues to be vocalized by President-elect Trump.

"As leaders in California, we will stand up and not be complicit or complacent int he trampling rights and the destruction of families in our immigrant communities," said Assemblymember Rob Bonta, chair of the API Legislative Caucus.

"The rhetoric coming from President-elect Donald Trump and his inner circle cannot be tolerated. As president, his actions would tear families apart, destabilize communities and hurt our economy. As Californians, we will stand by our values and fight together to protect ante most vulnerable in our society," said Bonta. 

During the 18-month presidential campaign, Trump said he would deport some 11 million undocumented immigrants, build a wall between Mexico and the U.S., and curtail the immigration of Muslims, many of whom come from Asia.

Since the Nov. 8 election, there has been an increase an increase in reports of racism and hate crimes according to the Southern Poverty Law Center. Communities of color are encountering race-based bullying attacks.

"We are part of one California," said Bonta, the only Filipino/American in the state legislature. "As the most diverse state in America, California is an example to the nation and the world of how public policies of inclusion and compassion foster stronger, safer and more prosperous communities."

A day after the election's surprising results, California Senate President pro Temper Kevin de Leon and Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon, both Democrats, released a joint statement.

"Today, we woke up feeling like strangers in a foreign land, because yesterday Americans expressed their views on a pluralistic and democratic society that are clearly inconsistent with the values of the people of California.

California voters - with the largest number of immigrants in the country - voted for Clinton over Trump almost two to one. San Francisco, Los Angeles, San Jose and Oakland said they would not cooperate with federal attempts to deport its residents.

"California is – and must always be – a refuge of justice and opportunity for people of all walks, talks, ages and aspirations – regardless of how you look, where you live, what language you speak, or who you love," continued the statement," read the joint statement.

"While Donald Trump may have won the presidency, he hasn’t changed our values. America is greater than any one man or party. We will not be dragged back into the past. We will lead the resistance to any effort that would shred our social fabric or our Constitution.


As the world's sixth largest economy, home to the country's entertainment industry and the center of innovation in Silicon Valley, provider of much of the country's produce, California lawmakers believe the state has some leverage even though Congress, the Supreme Court and the White House are controlled by the GOP.

"California was not a part of this nation when its history began, but we are clearly now the keeper of its future," concluded the statement from de Leon and Rendon.

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