The Following congratulatory letter was sent to all members of the New Jersey Congressional Delegation who won their elections on November 6, 2018:

On behalf of Muslim Americans in New Jersey, the New Jersey chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-NJ) and the New Jersey Muslim Voters Project (NJMVP) would like to congratulate you on your electoral victory.  This is a great achievement for you and, in fact, for all of those who supported your campaign. 

In these trying times of divisiveness, we applaud the culture of inclusiveness that defines the great state of New Jersey and was reflected in the results of the past election.  We look forward to your support of this noble principle of inclusiveness through your public service. 

As civically engaged members of the community, we hope to join you in your endeavors to make this state, and in fact, this country a better and more just place for all Americans to live and thrive.

Signatories

CAIR New Jersey

New Jersey Muslim Voters Project

Sisterhood of Salaam Shalom - SJ Chapter 1

Islamic Center of Morris County

Jam e Masjid Islamic Center, Boonton

Pak-American Community Association of New Jersey

NIA Masjid & Community Center

AMD

Asma Kasuba

Zainab Syed

 

 

Please support your community by participating in the

 

Muslim Advocacy Day

 

December 17, 2018 – 10 am to 5 pm

The New Jersey State House, 125 W State St., Trenton, NJ 08608

 

On Monday December 17, 2018 representatives of New Jersey’s Muslim Community are gathering in our state’s capital to meet with our elected officials.  The objectives of this meeting are:

• To strengthen or establish Muslim community relationships with State Assembly and State Senators and their staff
• To educate state elected officials and their staff about Muslim civil liberties concerns and proposed solutions
• To encourage state elected officials to support key policies that are important to New Jersey’s Muslim community

We encourage you to join the Delegation of New Jersey Muslims to advocate on behalf of the entire community.  As a Delegate you will meet with your state legislators and encourage them to support the following proposed bills:

• A0461 - This bill requires adoption agency, or court, to maintain a child’s religious upbringing when placing child in adoption or foster care.
• A3077 - This bill prohibits disclosure of religious affiliation information by State or local government agencies to the federal government in an effort to prevent a possible religious registry.
• A1014 - This bill amends the current “Law Against Discrimination” and makes it unlawful to discriminate against someone if they have been a victim of a crime. For example: You can’t be turned down for a job just because you took action against a former employer.
• Proposed Bill - This proposed legislation would allow new mosques that have been approved by zoning boards to continue with building plans even if the zoning rules are changed.

TO REGISTER AS A DELEGATE PLEASE GO TO: https://goo.gl/forms/R7mx1Xgb2HqnQm542

Registration Deadline: November 30, 2018

 

Text your Zip Code to 520-200-2223. You’ll get a text back with the names and numbers of your federal and state reps and senators.

On June 26, 2018 the Supreme Court issued a 5-4 decision in support of Trump’s bigoted Muslim Ban. This is bad but we will keep fighting. It’s more important than ever to know your rights despite this decision. Since December 4, 2017, the Muslim Ban has been in full effect for certain individuals from: Iran, Libya, North Korea, Somalia, Syria, Venezuela, and Yemen. All are facing difficulty in their applications for visas to be united with family, study in the U.S., get medical treatment, or visit for tourism.

In this advisory we cover the current status of the Muslim Ban, who is impacted, as well as information about the so-called waiver process. Please note that this information is subject to change based on the various legal challenges. We will update you should changes happen.

Timing

The Supreme Court allowed Muslim Ban 3.0 to go into effect on December 4, 2017. On June 26, 2018 the Supreme Court issued a decision allowing the Muslim Ban to remain in effect.

Who Is Impacted?

Certain nationals of seven countries – Iran, Libya, North Korea, Somalia, Syria, Venezuela, and Yemen.

Muslim Ban 3.0 only applies to individuals who are:

Outside of the U.S. on the effective date,

Who did not have a valid visa on that date, and

Who have not obtained a waiver (discussed below).

Muslim Ban 3.0 Does NOT Apply To:

U.S. Lawful permanent residents (green card holders);

People admitted or paroled into the U.S. on or after the effective date of the new Muslim Ban;

People with a document other than a visa that allows them to travel to the U.S., if the document is dated on or after the effective date of the new Muslim Ban;

Dual-nationals traveling on a passport from a non-designated country;

People who have been granted asylum by the U.S.;

Refugees already admitted to the U.S.; or

Individuals granted withholding of removal, advance parole, or protection under the Convention against Torture.

Unlike past decisions, this decision does NOT allow for an exception for “Bona Fide Relationships” (i.e. close family ties such as a parent, spouse, child, sister, brother, fiancé(e), etc.)

Details on Impacted Countries

Iran

All immigrant and nonimmigrant visas are suspended for Iranian nationals except for those with F, J, or M visas.

Those with F, J, or M visas will most likely be subject to heightened screening.

Libya

All immigrants and nonimmigrant visas, including business (B-1), tourist (B-2), business/tourist (B-1/B-2) visas are suspended for Libyan nationals.

Somalia

All immigrant visas are suspended for Somali nationals.

Non-immigrant visas are permitted, subjected to heightened screening.

Syria

All immigrant and nonimmigrant visas for for Syrian nationals are suspended.

Yemen

All immigrant and nonimmigrant visas, including business (B-1), tourist (B-2), and business/tourist (B-1/B-2) visas are suspended for Yemeni nationals.

North Korea

All immigrant and nonimmigrant visas are suspended for North Korean nationals

Venezuela

Visa issuance for officials of government agencies of Venezuela involved in screening and vetting procedures and their immediate family members, as nonimmigrants on business (B-1), tourist (B-2), and business/tourist (B-1/B-2) visas, is suspended. Additionally, nationals of Venezuela who are visa holders are subject to heightened screening.

Venezuelans traveling on diplomatic visas are not affected by this order.

Waivers Seeking an Exception to Muslim Ban 3.0

A “waiver” is permission to obtain a U.S. visa, even though the Muslim Ban says you are not eligible to get one. Muslim Ban 3.0 states that banned individuals can ask for a waiver to request an exception that would allow the visa to be issued as long as they can show that:

Denying entry would cause the visa applicant undue hardship;

Entry to the U.S. would not pose a threat to the national security or public safety of the U.S.; and

Entry would be in the national interest of the U.S.

The law states that a consular officer or Customs and Border Protection official has the authority to grant a waiver on a case-by-case-basis. The law also lists several examples where a waiver can be granted (such as needing urgent medical care, reuniting with immediate family members in the U.S., business ties etc.).

Unfortunately the waiver process has been very unclear and applied unevenly. The government has provided very little guidance on the waiver process. Here are some trends we have seen:

There is no formal process to request a waiver. There is no available form online to fill out. Any documents submitted to the consulate outlining why you qualify for a waiver may or may not be accepted.

Many consulates have been notifying individuals that either:

The consulate is denying the waiver for their case, stating that the visa is “refused under 212(f)”:

In this case, there is no appeal process for the decision. Many individuals are submitting waiver requests, however, it is unclear if they are being accepted.

The consulate is considering their case for a waiver:

In this case, the consulate may or may not ask you about the above criteria in the interview; the consulate may or may not accept a written letter outlining why you meet the above criteria either during your interview or if you try to email/mail it in; the consulate may or may not refer your case to Washington D.C.

If you have an upcoming interview before a consulate please seek legal advice about the waiver process.

As of May 15, 2018, 655 waivers have been confirmed to have been granted since the Ban went into effect. At this point it is very unclear how these cases will be processed and what the next step is until the government issues more guidance. Information around waivers can change very quickly, so seek legal help (while watching out for scams) and please check back frequently.

How to Get Legal Help

Contact CAIR-NJ if:

You or someone you know is impacted by this Muslim Ban and would like free legal advice or assistance;

Your community would like to request a “Know Your Rights” presentation.

CAIR New Jersey:

908-668-5900 or http://nj.cair.com/your-rights/report-an-incident.html

 

We are pleased to announce CAIR New Jersey's 12th annual banquet to be held on February 10, 2018! You won't want to miss this special event   featuring Linda Sarsour, Khizr Khan, and other great speakers.

Doors open at 5:30 pm for maghrib prayer and registration begins at 6:00 pm.