Immigrant ARC Statement on New Travel Ban Against Nearly 20 Countries
Albany, NY (June 5, 2025) - Today’s presidential proclamation banning travel from 19 countries - 12 fully and 7 partially - is a chilling echo of a dark chapter in our nation’s recent history - one we know all too well. Immigrant ARC was born in the aftermath of the first travel ban in 2017, when immigration lawyers mobilized at JFK Airport to stand against a discriminatory policy that targeted individuals based on where they were born. We’ve seen this before. And we are ready.
We have been preparing for this moment. Our network of legal service providers is already coordinating to support those impacted, monitor implementation, and ensure that due process and human dignity are not sacrificed in the name of fear or politics.
“This is not just a return to failed and discriminatory policies. It is part of a broader strategy to erode our legal norms and discourage migration through cruelty and chaos,” said Camille Mackler, Chief Executive Officer of Immigrant ARC. “It is no coincidence that this proclamation comes amid a surge in immigration enforcement tactics that defy both belief and legality. But we will not be deterred. We were built for moments like this, and we will continue fighting for every immigrant, every family, and the values that truly make this country great.”
This policy marks a return to one of the most shameful playbooks in our nation’s history: targeting people not for what they’ve done, but for where they come from. Just as in the past, those who champion such measures will find themselves on the wrong side of history, facing the judgment not only of courts, but of conscience.
When we close our doors to the world’s brightest minds, most determined entrepreneurs, and those who seek refuge and opportunity, we don’t just fail them - we fail ourselves. Whether they are fleeing danger, seeking to study and innovate, or simply striving to contribute to our communities, immigrants make us stronger.
At I-ARC, we remain committed to building a more just and inclusive future. We are ready, and we are not backing down.
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Immigrant ARC is a collaborative of over 80 organizations and professional associations providing legal services to New York’s immigrant communities throughout the State. Born out of the legal effort at JFK Airport during the Muslim Travel Ban in 2017, our mission is clear: to mobilize New York State’s legal service providers by facilitating communication and information sharing to better support our immigrant communities; to organize and respond to issues as they arise by coordinating resources and fostering best practices among providers; and to resist and challenge anti-immigrant policies by shining a light on injustices and confronting inequalities faced by our communities in the legal system.