NO BAN Act (2019)
The National Origin-Based Anti-Discrimination for Nonimmigrants Act.
The National Origin-Based Anti discrimination for Nonimmigrants Act (“NO BAN Act”) is a historic civil rights bill that would prevent faith- based discrimination in immigration as well as end Muslim Ban, the Refugee Ban, and the Asylum Ban.
Read MoreSubmitted to the House Judiciary Committee Hearing on “Hate Crimes and the Rise of White Nationalism”
The Arab American Institute is pleased to submit this statement for the record in support of continued examination of hate crime in American communities and related policy or legislative initiatives, such as federal efforts that would promote improved data collection of reported incidents under the Hate Crime Statistics Act.1 As indicated in the opening remarks of Chairman Nadler and Ranking Member Collins, preventing both the incidence of hate crime and white supremacist or white nationalist violence is a bipartisan concern.
Read MoreDEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, ET AL., Petitioners, v. NEW YORK, ET AL
Brief for the Arab American Institute as Amicus Curiae in Support of Respondents
The Arab American Institute (“AAI”) is a nonprofit, nonpartisan national leadership organization established under Section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code. It represents the policy and community interests of Arab Americans across the United States, and was created to nurture and encourage the direct participation of Arab Americans in political and civic life. In particular, AAI serves as a central resource for government officials, the media, political leaders, and community groups on a variety of public policy issues that concern Arab Americans and U.S.–Arab relations.
Read MoreBefore the Vermont General Assembly, Senate Committee on Judiciary Statement of Kai Wiggins, Policy Analyst, Arab American Institute February 14, 2019
As a national civil rights organization founded in 1985, AAI promotes the political and civic empowerment of Arab Americans and supports similar efforts of other communities across the United States. As recent high-profile cases of persistent racial harassment in Vermont have shown, bias incidents can disrupt the democratic process and intimidate individuals and their communities from participating in political and civic affairs.
Read MoreAs a national civil rights organization founded in 1985, the Arab American Institute (AAI) promotes the political representation and civic engagement of Arab Americans and supports similar efforts of other communities across the United States. As recent high profile cases of persistent racial harassment in Vermont have made clear, bias incidents can disrupt the democratic process and intimidate individuals and their communities from participating in political and civic affairs. When these incidents rise to the level of criminal activity, and therefore become what we call “hate crimes,” the effects can be even more damaging.
Read MoreUnderreported, Under Threat: Hate Crime in the United States and the Targeting of Arab Americans documents the history of hate crime prevention in the United States with a focus on targeted violence against Arab Americans. An important part of this history, though previously undisclosed, is the elimination of Bias Motivation Code 31 (Anti-Arab) from official hate crime data collections. After contextualizing anti-Arab hate crime within a broader narrative of discrimination and bigotry, the report provides case studies of targeted violence against Arab Americans, a review of the national hate crime reporting and data collection system, including analysis of anti-Arab hate crime reporting, and a consideration of enduring limitations to our federal hate crime statistics. We conclude this report with a series of recommendations based on our findings.
Read MoreOut of the known US government maintained “terrorist watch lists,” the size, impact, accessibility, and redress processes vary significantly. This fact sheet provides a look at the four most commonly discussed watch lists.
Read MoreThe refugee vetting process is robust and includes many different steps and agencies.
Read MoreOne of the many ways we are fighting intolerance is by holding public officials accountable for the rhetoric they espouse. The Arab American Institute’s “Leadership or Pandering” series examines statements made by policymakers and candidates as they address divisive issues that provide clear opportunities to stand against bigotry. Though not comprehensive, and while no official can be judged fairly by any single action or statement, we hope that it will provide a useful look at the debate and its participants.
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