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May 25, 2017

The ruling is at https://www.aclu.org/legal-document/international-refugee-assistance-project-v-trump-opinion

More information is at: https://www.aclu.org/cases/international-refugee-assistance-project-v-trump

Federal Appeals Court Rules Trump Muslim Ban Unconstitutional

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE_May 25, 2017

RICHMOND, Va. - In a 10-3 ruling, a federal appeals court today ruled President Trump's revised Muslim ban executive order is unconstitutional. The full Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals heard the case earlier this month.__The American Civil Liberties Union, ACLU of Maryland, and National Immigration Law Center brought the challenge on behalf of HIAS, the International Refugee Assistance Project, the Middle East Studies Association, and individuals affected by the ban.

Omar Jadwat, director of the ACLU's Immigrants' Rights Project who argued the case, had this reaction:

"President Trump's Muslim ban violates the Constitution, as this decision strongly reaffirms. The Constitution's prohibition on actions disfavoring or condemning any religion is a fundamental protection for all of us, and we can all be glad that the court today rejected the government's request to set that principle aside."

Sonia Kumar, Staff Attorney at the ACLU of Maryland, who is local co-counsel in the case, said this:

"Today's ruling that Trump's Muslim ban violates the constitution is not just a victory for the many people who have been directly harmed by the discriminatory executive orders.  It is a victory for American values, the rule of law, and the future of our country.  We are all better off when our country lives up to its best ideals - that everyone is welcome here and no one, not even the President, is above the law."