He says it’s ‘not good,’ and ‘could affect a lot of people.’
Frederick, Md (KM) One local Muslim is not happy with the US Supreme Court’s decision reinstating President Trump’s travel ban.from six majority-Muslim countries. Dr. Syed Haque, a local physician and president of the Frederick County Muslim Council, says it’s “not good” and “could affect a lot of people.” “We look at it as a more social and cultural problem, meaning that father could be separated from the family, and sons may be separated from the family. That’s how we look at it,” he says.
President Trump signed an executive order earlier this year putting the travel ban in effect, citing national security concerns. “As far terrorism is concerned, there have been a lot of studies showing that the immigrants are ‘least involved,’ ‘least involved,’ in these spate of terrorist acts at all,” says Dr. Haque.
The President issued his travel ban in January which covered Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen, saying time was needed to review screening procedures for visa applications from these countries. It was struck down by a federal appeals court. He issued revised travel ban in March, removing Iraq as one of the affected countries. It too was struck down.
The 4th US Court of Appeals in Richmond, Virginia said the ban was “rooted in religious animus” toward Muslims, pointing to Trump’s campaign promise to impose a ban on Muslims entering the US, and the remarks he has made on Twitter and other venues about Muslims.
In San Francisco, the 9th US Court of Appeals said the travel policy does not comply with federal immigration law, which includes a prohibition on nationality-based discrimination.
The Supreme Court says it will hear arguments on the case in October. But in the meantime, the Justices said the ban can be enforced. But visitors from those six nations can come into the US if they have a “credible claim of a bond fide relationship wit a person or entity in the United States.”
Dr. Haque says he remains hopeful that the Supreme Court can change its mind on the ban after it hears arguments in October. “Let’s see what happens. It is a decision by the Supreme Court. We have to accept it. So, hopefully, hopefully, it may get overturned maybe after the hearing, hopefully,” he said.
Dr. Haque says a majority of the residents in Frederick County are opposed to this ban. “I can speak for the county. There is, I think, a pretty good number of people who oppose this thing. We have great support from local people in Frederick, and I hope it stays that way,” he says.
By Kevin McManus