ACLU Comment on Senators Joining Bipartisan Visa Waiver Fix Effort

WASHINGTON — Lawmakers in the Senate have joined leaders in the House in introducing federal legislation to fix a new law that imposes discriminatory travel restrictions on dual nationals from certain countries. Sens. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), and Cory Booker (D-N.J.) have announced plans to introduce a companion Senate bill to the Equal Protection in Travel Act of 2016 introduced yesterday by U.S. Reps. Justin Amash (R-Mich.), John Conyers (D-Mich.), Debbie Dingell (D-Mich.), and Thomas Massie (R-Ky.).

That bill would repeal discriminatory travel restrictions on dual nationals from certain countries. The National Security Council indicated that the administration would be happy to see this legislation pass.

Joanne Lin, American Civil Liberties Union legislative counsel, said:

“The ACLU applauds these lawmakers for quickly moving to fix the discriminatory travel restrictions passed in last month’s visa waiver reform bill. It is wrong and un-American to discriminate against people based on their nationality, ancestry, and parentage. The ACLU urges Congress to pass this legislation without delay.”