Today, the United States Supreme Court decided to review President Trump’s discriminatory executive order on refugees and immigration. The ban, if implemented, potentially puts the lives of tens of thousands of people at risk worldwide and poses a direct threat to Oxfam’s humanitarian mission. In response Oxfam America President Abby Maxman said:
“Oxfam remains steadfast in our commitment to welcome and protect refugees and immigrants to the United States. To that end, Oxfam plans to submit an amicus brief to the Supreme Court in support of plaintiffs challenging this harmful and discriminatory Executive Order.
“This ban has already left tens of thousands of refugees in legal limbo, watching as the opportunity to be resettled in the United States slips through their fingers. Many people have been forced to give up their hopes that they might ever be able to find safety in the United States. We call on the Supreme Court to affirm the decisions of both the 4th and 9th Circuits that this illegal and immoral ban should not take effect. A cornerstone of the founding values of the US is to offer oppressed people refuge from violence and persecution, and we will continue to fight to uphold that legacy. As Americans we must open our minds, hearts, and borders to vulnerable refugees fleeing violence and persecution.”
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Notes to Editors:
Oxfam is represented by pro bono counsel Latham & Watkins. Oxfam was proud to file an amicus brief in support of plaintiffs challenging President Donald Trump’s executive order on refugees and immigration in both the 4th and 9th Circuit Court of Appeals.
Oxfam had previously joined with the ACLU of Massachusetts and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in a lawsuit challenging President Trump’s first executive order on refugees and immigrants.
Oxfam has worked in more than 90 countries to end poverty and injustice over the past 70 years. Oxfam employs staff in four of the six banned countries, and also provides lifesaving humanitarian assistance to refugees around the world.
The executive order suspends all refugee admissions for 120 days and blocks citizens of six Muslim-majority countries, refugees or otherwise, from entering the United States for 90 days: Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen.
