African HRC Congratulates the legal teams who worked on behalf of the people of the United States to uphold our Constitution
The Ninth Circuit has rejected the Trump’s Administration request to set aside the restraining order on Trump’s Muslim ban aka travel ban and the suspension for 120 days on the U.S. Refugee Program. No irreparable harm in upholding the stay. As the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals announced its ruling, several LGBT refugees are excitedly and nervously in the air on their way to several U.S. destinations. Now we have conveyed the exciting news, that they will in fact be able to land and enter the U.S.A. and Trump's attempt to thwart their resettlement has been defeated. For LGBTI refugees being returned to African countries can be a matter of life or death. This week was extremely trying for all impacted by the autocratic discriminatory order . The impact on LGBT refugees was horrendous as several refugees had their travel plans cancelled and the years of arduous processing to the point of resettlement placed in serious jeopardy.
African HRC is proud to have played a significant part in direct advocacy for individual refugees for the travel plans to resume, as we seized on the window of opportunity now further endorsed by the 9th Circuit. This shows that the American system works to uphold our Constitutional system of checks and balances and to defy what was tantamount to an uneducated autocratic despot’s play on people’s fears for political purposes. As American we cannot turn our back on refugees - I believe that if we do that, in fact we will encourage and not thwart more terrorism. Trump’s idea of keeping us safe is ignorant and does not comport with our values. LGBTI people want to live their lives safely where they are able to live out their sexual orientation and gender identity. America under the Obama administration offered this hope. We look forward to welcoming the LGBTI refugees home in the next 24 hours. Stay tuned for updates - Press Inquiries - Melanie Nathan: commissionermnathan@gmail.com UPDATED Friday Feb 10, 2017 at 3.00 pm PST : Three LGBTI refugees, including one transgender refugee have landed at different USA destinations - all have made it through customs and immigration. WELCOME HOME! SEE EARLIER REPORT:
LGBTI Refugees Impacted by Court Order to Halt Trump Ban
Last week a federal judge in Seattle ordered a national halt to enforcement of President Trump’s controversial travel ban.U.S. District Judge James Robart ruled Friday afternoon in favor of Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson, who sued this week to invalidate key provisions of Trump’s executive order. Robart granted Ferguson’s request for a temporary restraining order “on a nationwide basis,” prohibiting federal employees from enforcing Trump’s order.The judge rejected arguments from Justice Department attorneys who said the travel ban fell well within the president’s national-security powers. A federal appeals court on Sunday ruled that President Trump’s immigration order will remain suspended for the time being, allowing those previously banned from coming to the United States at least several days to get here. The decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit preserves Judge Robart’s order to temporarily halt the ban.African HRC has worked on an emergency basis through the weekend with LGBTI refugees and agencies, providing management, guidance and advocacy to enable the refugees, whose travel had been revoked under the Trump ban, to now continue to travel under the resettlement program. As these LGBT refugees head toward resettlement travel this week, we are still cautious and guarded, as this situation remains uncertain and fluid.Please note LGBTI refugees, who have spent two to three years being vetted and screened by UNHCR and the U.S. Government, face particularly hardship with further persecution, even while refugees, under UNHCR protection, as they are subject to further persecution by local authorities and the heterosexual urban and refugee populations. Now we have received this good news and the refugees will be able to land in the next 48 hours and certainly for the duration of this month, as more are scheduled to travel.
