JL Turner Legal Association, DFW Muslim Bar Association (DFW-MBA), Dallas Asian American Bar Association (DAABA) and Dallas Hispanic Bar Association (DHBA), And South Asian Bar Association (SABA) Joint Press Release
MEDIA ADVISORY
Several Dallas Area Bar Associations Express Deep Concern Regarding President Trump’s Executive Order Severely Restricting Entry From Seven Muslim Majority Nations
(DALLAS TX, 2/2/17) Several Dallas lawyers’ groups joined together to express serious concern regarding President Trump’s recent executive order, issued on the premise of protecting Americans from terrorist attacks on American soil. The order severely restricts entry from seven Muslim majority countries, bars Syrian refugees indefinitely, and suspends all refugee admissions for 120 days.
To date, four United States District Courts have issued stays of the executive order. The first, issued by US District Judge Ann Donnelly, prevented the removal from the United States of those with approved refugee applications, valid visas, and “other individuals... legally authorized to enter the United States.”
JL Turner Legal Association President Tramaine Tinner: “We believe Judge Donnelly was absolutely correct in ruling that there was a risk of “substantial and irreparable injury” to the individuals affected, particularly to those who would have been returned to nations where their lives were endangered. We have seen from hundreds of thousands of protesters across the nation, and in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, that Americans are concerned about the impact such an executive order may have on our security and our country’s noble ideals.”
Hundreds of travelers, including some U.S. citizens, who were detained in airports throughout the United States are being released following the federal rulings and under pressure by civil rights groups.
At least nine individuals were detained at Dallas-Fort Worth Airport. Accurate numbers are not available, as government officials have declined to identify the names of the individuals being detained. Among those released was a mother from Sudan who is a legal permanent resident, who was separated from her 11-month-old U.S. born baby. According to news reports, her child, who is still breastfeeding, was denied access to her mother for hours while attorneys worked diligently to prevent her from being deported.
“We are thankful and proud of our lawyers who volunteered their services here at DFW Airport this past week” said Asad Rahman, Vice President of the DFW Muslim Bar Association. “They have played a part in helping reunite those family members being detained by immigration officials – and we were proud to join thousands of ordinary Texans who refused to leave until every one of them were released.”
While the stories of these detained people vary, the Boards of the four Dallas-area bar associations are committed to the rule of law and the fair and equitable treatment of all individuals regardless of race, national origin, creed or religion. Actions that discriminatorily impact and target certain members of our community should be treated with suspicion and carefully scrutinized to ensure they comport with the law. Our bar associations remain united in ensuring these ideals.
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CONTACT: For further information please contact Asad Rahman at 214-384-6410 or email him at asadrahmanesq@gmail.com.
