The South Asian Bar Association of Greater Boston (SABA GB) strongly condemns the Trump Administration’s newest Executive Order.  This Order, signed on March 6, 2017, is yet another discriminatory action by this Administration and circumvents the ideals of the United States Constitution and this great nation.

The Order suspends refugee admission to the United States for 120 days, reduces the number of refugees allowed into the country to 50,000, and, most notably, bans individuals from six Muslim-majority countries from entering the United States for 90 days. The Order provides some exceptions and is not applicable to legal permanent residents, dual national passport holders, and valid visa holders whose documents were issued on or before January 27, 2017.

The Order continues to target immigrant communities by requiring regular reports to be published on suspected criminal activity by foreign nationals and refugees. This results in mistrust and further marginalization of immigrant communities.

“The President’s Executive Action does nothing more than advance an anti-Muslim agenda espoused during the campaign under the guise of National Security,” said South Asian Bar Association of North America (SABA) President Vichal Kumar. “A refugee, by definition, is a person who has been forced to leave their country in order to escape war, persecution, or natural disaster. The supposed justification for this Executive Action punishes this person for the very same war and persecution that is causing them to leave in the first place.”

SABA GB President Saraa Basaria, notes that “in light of the continued discriminatory effect that this new Executive Order has on the South Asian and Muslim communities, SABA GB reaffirms its commitment to supporting, empowering, and advocating for these communities in the Greater Boston area.”

SABA GB, which includes many attorneys who are first generation Americans or naturalized citizens, strongly condemns discriminatory immigration enforcement and is committed to championing policies that align with and respect the principles upon which this nation was founded.

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Saraa Basaria, President
Manmeet Kaur Desai, Vice President
Rashima Shukla, Secretary
Amal Bala, Treasurer

BOARD MEMBERS
Amoli Pandya
Bharat Moudgil
Anupama Pal
Karishma Jiva
Neil Patel
Hanok George
Sumbul Siddiqui
Gayatri Deodhar

|