American Rights Groups Slam US Supreme Court For Trump Travel Ban Ruling

The US Supreme Court ruling that upheld President Donald Trump's ban on travel from mostly Muslim countries has triggered an uproar from human rights groups as well as immigration and religious freedom bodies from across the country.

NEW YORK, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 28th Jun, 2018 ) :The US Supreme Court ruling that upheld President Donald Trump's ban on travel from mostly Muslim countries has triggered an uproar from human rights groups as well as immigration and religious freedom bodies from across the country.

"This is not the first time the Court has been wrong, or has allowed official racism and xenophobia to continue rather than standing up to it. History has its eyes on us and will judge today's decision harshly," the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) said in a statement.

The ACLU added that the Supreme Court allowed the U.S. to "imprison Japanese Americans (during World War II) solely because of their national origin and ethnicity, based on empty claims of national security.

"It's one of the most shameful chapters of US history, and today's decision now joins it," ACLU said.

The court on Tuesday upheld Trump's travel ban, which restricts travel to the U.S. from five Muslim-majority countries: Iran, Libya, Syria, Somalia and Yemen.

The ACLU had strongly condemned Trump's executive order, and in September of 2017 said that the policy, while updated, was still a "Muslim ban at its core." "It certainly engages in discrimination based on national origin, which is unlawful," ACLU Executive Director Anthony Romero said at the time.

Here are other reactions: NIHAD AWAD, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE COUNCIL OF AMERICAN-ISLAMIC RELATIONS (CAIR): "This is a setback; not the end of the road. Today, the Supreme Court made it clear that the responsibility will continue to be on the American Muslim community and its allies to push for an end to the Muslim Ban.

"The Supreme Court's decision is an invitation to inject discrimination back into our immigration system. More than half a century ago, Congress abandoned a racist immigration system that preferred some races over others. This decision is an abandonment of that milestone." CYNTHIA BUIZA, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE CALIFORNIA IMMIGRANT POLICY CENTER: "The Muslim Ban, a draconian centerpiece of the Trump administration's hateful agenda, is a deep assault on our country's values of inclusion, compassion, and religious freedom." AMANDA TYLER, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE BAPTIST JOINT COMMITTEE FOR RELIGIOUS LIBERTY: "We are deeply disappointed by the Supreme Court's refusal to repudiate policy rooted in animus against Muslims. In giving such broad deference to President Trump, the court neglects its duty to uphold our First Amendment principles of religious liberty.

"Safeguarding religious liberty requires the government to remain neutral with regard to religion, neither favoring one religion over another nor preferring religion or irreligion." BASIM ELKARRA, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE COUNCIL OF AMERICAN-ISLAMIC RELATIONS' SACRAMENTO VALLEY:"This ruling sets a dangerous precedent and is extremely disappointing. By banning people of certain nationalities based on religious beliefs, the United States betrays its core values imagine where this could lead in the future."