Comprehensive Immigration Reform is an issue on everyone’s mind as the current bill moves has passed in the Senate and is up for vote in the House. KARAMAH is committed to advocating for the civil liberties and civil rights of all, particularly those of the Muslim community. Therefore, KARAMAH has a keen interest in any immigration bill that will likely significantly impact the Muslim community. KARAMAH featured Manar Waheed, policy director at South Asian Americans Leading Together, at a policy briefing on the proposed bill on June 11.
For years, immigration reform has been the topic of much debate and concern. After several failed attempts at finding “the right” solution, reform provisions have finally been passed by the Senate that hold tremendous promise of eventually becoming law. However, though the document has several positive aspects, there also exist many negative ones. Waheed addressed these issues at the KARAMAH briefing–a holistic approach to immigration reform proves to be not only necessary but also incredibly insightful to the situation at hand. Of particular importance to KARAMAH and the Muslim community are pieces of the bill pertaining to enforcement and profiling, as well as those pieces that will adversely affect victims of domestic violence. Waheed addressed the loophole in the proposed bill that allows for profiling based on religion and national origin. Should the bill pass with this language included, the ramifications for the Muslim community could be severe. There are also amendments in the bill that would adversely impact survivors of domestic violence by making the status of the victims dependent on their abuser. Waheed spoke of how constructing a fresh new link between the victim and said abuser would be deeply problematic.
The Muslim community is diverse in background, education, and ethnicity. However, Comprehensive Immigration Reform has the potential to adversely affect members of the Muslim community in various ways. It is essential that the Muslim community understand the potential effects of this bill – for students, families, refugees, victims of domestic violence, asylum seekers, and the many more who will be affected – and advocate for changes that will respect and value their community.
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